The Blue Jackets hit a speed bump on Saturday, but there have been strong signs of hope over the past week.
After a contextually disappointing three-game weekend in California in early November, the Blue Jackets have recorded five points in their last three games, and have looked (overall) better while doing it.
In a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Nov. 6, the Blue Jackets scored a power-play goal, snapping a 21-man-advantage drought without one. They then traveled to Washington for a playoff rematch with the Capitals, earning a close 2-1 win.
Saturday night's loss to the New York Rangers came with a point, though defensive lapses were the storyline. Even so, the Blue Jackets have recorded four power play goals in that three-game stretch, which, wait for it, as is almost exactly half of what they had in the 14 games prior (10).
Tonight, they meet the Stars for the second time in less than a week, this time in their barn at American Airlines Center.
PROJECTED LINES
Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson
Foligno – Jenner – Anderson
Bjorkstrand – Wennberg – Duclair
Hannikainen – Dubinsky – Nash
DEFENSEMEN
Murray – Jones
Nutivaara – Savard
Werenski – Harrington
GOALTENDER
Bobrovsky
STORYLINES
- The talk of Joonas Korpisalo needing more ice time has been silenced, at least for the moment. Sergei Bobrovsky made 60 saves in two victories over the Stars and Capitals, all while allowing only two goals in total. Korpisalo, on the other hand, hasn't had a game in which he has let in less than three goals, and made only 15 saves on 19 shots against the Rangers.
- The Stars have lost three of their last four games, but are still sitting healthily with 20 points at third place in the Central Division. They are boasting a top-10 power play in the league, hovering just below a 25% conversion rate, and a respectable penalty kill at 81.48%.
- Anthony Duclair, while being tied for the team lead with seven goals, only touched the ice for 40 seconds in the third period and overtime combined in Saturday's loss to the Rangers. Though he was given a chance in the shootout, the message was clear the coach John Tortorella is frustrated with his defensive play.
