Is the Columbus Blue Jackets' offense on the upswing?
For much of the season, the storyline has been trying to figure out where the offense is and when it'll get going.
But has the scoring begun to turn around?
The Blue Jackets are seventh in 5v5 GF/60 (2.84) this season and 14th in xGF/60 (2.66). In all strengths, they're 24th (2.88), and their xGF/60 (2.95) is 24th.
In the month of November, their 5v5 GF/60 (3.31) is third and their xGF/60 (2.64) is 16th. In all strengths, their GF/60 (3.12) is 17th, and xGF/60 (2.87) is 22nd.
And while it helps, it's not because the Blue Jackets posted seven goals in a 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 22.
From Nov. 1 through Nov. 21, the Blue Jackets were 10th in 5v5 GF/60 (3.04) and eighth in xGF/60 (2.88).
Among the largest contributors for the month has been Zach Werenski who is registering 4.59 GF/60 in 14 games (248:10 ice time). He's tied for eighth among all defensemen in the league with 14 assists overall. Werenski's 10 assists in the month tie a franchise record for most ever by a defenseman. He's second on the Blue Jackets with 15 points.
Zach Werenski (0-1010) collected his 10th assist of November and tied the @BlueJacketsNHL benchmark for most by a defenseman in a single month. He tied Seth Jones (Feb. 2021), James Wisniewski (Jan. 2014), Ryan Murray (Jan. 2014) and Ron Hainsey (Dec. 2006). #NHLStats
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 23, 2023
Werenski had four assists against Chicago, a franchise record for assists in a game by a defenseman. The defense as a whole tied a franchise record with eight combined points.
In November, Adam Boqvist has 5.16 GF/60 in seven games (92:57). He had a two-assist game against the Blackhawks for his first points of the season.
All data per Natural Stat Trick.
There's been plenty of conversation about the lack of scoring from the Blue Jackets and individual players on the roster who are known for their goal-scoring and scoring prowess.
Johnny Gaudreau has undergone his worst offensive slump to start his season and as we approach December, has begun to resemble the Gaudreau we're accustomed to. Since being sat on the bench during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 16, he has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past six games.
He's up to fifth on the team in points with 11.
Patrik Laine scored in his return to the lineup in the blowout over the Blackhawks following a healthy scratch and has three goals — he did miss nine games with a concussion.
Leading the Blue Jackets in goals and points, Boone Jenner is tied for 15th in the NHL among goal-scorers with 11 and is four off the league lead.
Adam Fantilli is seventh among rookies with 10 points, tied for sixth with four goals, and tied for eighth with six assists. He leads all rookies with 61 shots. Dmitri Voronkov has the exact same scoring totals as Fantilli.
The offense showed up in a huge way with five goals Monday night in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Voronkov was part of NHL history.
Tonight marks the first time in NHL history four different Russian-born goal-scorers scored in the same game.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 28, 2023
Dmitri Voronkov, Ivan Provorov, Yegor Chinakhov, and Kirill Marchenko. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/dHdmQpMihJ
The Blue Jackets are back at it on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens from Nationwide Arena at 7:00 p.m. ET.
