If the Columbus Blue Jackets played all their games at Nationwide Arena, you'd wonder what their record might be.
The Blue Jackets have found success so far this season inside the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena.
Through eight games at home, the Blue Jackets are 5-3-0, a respectable mark. Attributing to their home success is the offense and scoring early and often.
In four of those victories, they've scored six goals apiece. They had a 2-0 shutout of the New York Islanders in the other game on Oct. 30.
Averaging 4.0 goals per game, Columbus is sixth in the league in that category among all home teams. On top of being able to pile on goals, they don't give them up. Their 2.75 goals against per game are 11th best among all teams.
The power play is 17th (17.4) and the penalty kill is 13th (83.3). They're putting up 29.6 shots per game (19th) and allowing 29.1 (12th).
Now we look at the road splits.
After Monday's big win in Boston, the Jackets are one of a handful of teams with two road victories this season. Columbus is 2-6-2 having snapped a seven-game road losing streak.
Just decided to look this up: the Jackets 5-1 win vs. the Bruins on Monday night tied for the largest #CBJ win in Boston in franchise history. Matched a 5-1 win all the way back on Nov. 10, 2001.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 19, 2024
Among the frustrations with the dismal road results is the Jackets have been in nearly every game. They started the year with a tight 3-2 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 10 and dropped six goals on the Colorado Avalanche en route to a 6-4 win on Oct. 12.
| Home | Splits | Away |
|---|---|---|
| 5-3-0 | Record | 2-6-2 |
| 4.00 (6th) | Goals For | 2.60 (25th) |
| 2.75 (10th) | Goals Against | 4.00 (30th) |
| 17.4 (17th) | Power Play | 15.4 (25th) |
| 83.3 (13th) | Penalty Kill | 78.8 (18th) |
| 29.6 (19th) | Shots For | 33.1 (2nd) |
| 29.1 (12th) | Shots Against | 28.3 (13th) |
Between that win in Denver and last night's win over the Bruins, the Blue Jackets went over a month between road wins. We outlined the recent road trip through D.C., California, and Seattle in which the Jackets held several key analytical edges (5v5).
The offense has largely been feast or famine when the Jackets are playing at home versus being on the road.
"We got to buy into this whole playing simple mentality," Mathieu Olivier said after Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. "Sometimes I feel like we're still a young team ... we try to play a high-flying offense, we're not there yet. Doesn't play to our advantage when we do that.
"When we play simple and north and get bodies to the net, we put pucks to the net, like (Friday) against Pittsburgh, it wasn't anything special. That's just part of our development right now as a team. That's something we got to get more consistency in."
As far as the Jackets not being consistent in their style of play, Evason said, "We've had enough learning experiences at this point to understand how we need to play in order to have success. We saw it last night, what we did in the third period, and we can't repeat it." #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 17, 2024
Oliver did his part on Monday with a shorthanded goal and fight in the first period against the Bruins as part of a three-goal first period en route to a 5-1 win.
What a start by #CBJ Sir Mathieu Olivier.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 19, 2024
In 7 CBJ wins, he has 3 GWG. He had 2 in his first 173 NHL games.
That's tied for third in the NHL with guys named Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Anze Kopitar, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, William Nylander, Kyle Connor ...
The Blue Jackets will look to keep the vibes high with a tough home test against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday at Nationwide Arena.
