Through the first month of the season, we've gotten a glimpse of really good play mixed with struggles.
That applies to the Columbus Blue Jackets as a whole.
It can also apply to Zach Werenski and Damon Severson who are part of the Blue Jackets’ quest to turn in better results for an upgraded blue line that was overhauled last summer.
Monday’s loss against the Dallas Stars notwithstanding, that’s been the case so far in the young season.
Compare that to last year, when eight of the 11 defensive pairings that skated at least 100 minutes together had a goals/60 average above 3.00, and all but one was over the 2.35 put up by the Provorov-Jiricek combination this season, which is the worst of the three. #CBJ
— CBJ Stats (@BlueJacketStats) October 30, 2023
According to MoneyPuck, the pair ranked ninth in the league among defensive pairings in expected goals against per 60 before Monday's loss.
Top defensive pairings by lowest expected goals against per time played together. (Minimum 50 minutes together) https://t.co/3qd1ufVXHS pic.twitter.com/6aiJ83rO3V
— MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) October 29, 2023
Against Dallas, they were on the ice for two goals against, and Severson scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket. Now after Monday's loss, the two were dinged pretty good as MoneyPuck has them at 66th in the league, but those numbers will normalize the deeper we get into the season.
In Severson's nine seasons heading into the 2023-24 campaign, he's never had a year in which his xGA/60 was above 2.71. Last season it was 2.37. It's currently at 3.55 and his GA/60 is 3.67. The same goes for Werenski whose xGA/60 is 3.29 and he's never had a season over 2.88 per Natural Stat Trick.
Similar to the team as a whole, there have been moments where both players shine and show the strengths they each provide and then there are times when it's a mixed bag and you see where improvements are necessary.
Just as head coach Pascal Vincent has tried to emphasize a more consistent, hard-working approach, everyone acknowledges the youthfulness of the team and mistakes will happen. The 29-year-old Severson wasn't immune to a third-period seat on the bench in the 4-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 16 after an egregious turnover led to the second goal of the game.
| Time On Ice Per Game | Corsi For Per 60 | Corsi Against Per 60 | High Danger Goals For Per 60 | High Danger Goals Against Per 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:33 | 77.16 | 63.51 | 2.05 | 0.68 |
How has it been playing with Severson in the first month of the season?
"It's been good so far," Werenski said before Monday's game against the Stars. "Obviously, still early. But I think since I came back from injury and we started playing together, we just kept it simple. Got pucks to our forwards. Just try to make easy plays. Seems like we see the game the same way which always makes it easy to have a partner that's similar to you. So it's been really good so far. I've enjoyed it."
It helps to have a guy who's similar to you and helps bring the best out of the other. Werenski and Severson have been on the ice for five goals for and four against, and have an xGF/60 of 3.37 and xGA/60 of 3.02. Perhaps tendencies of their prolific scoring ways and still figuring the other out from a defensive perspective.
"He's a guy that can make plays," Werenski said. "Myself, I like to make plays. I think whenever you have a guy you can read off of, understand what he's doing with the puck, understand the plays he's making, spots you need to be on the ice, I think it definitely helps your game. I think it's been good so far so hopefully we can keep building on it."
The Blue Jackets are back at home on Thursday when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning. After Monday's 5-3 loss, Vincent put the team through another hard practice on Tuesday. Expect a better effort as the team seeks a response.
