Columbus Blue Jackets: Top 3 questions that need to be answered in 2020
The hiatus of the 2019-20 NHL season has the Columbus Blue Jackets wondering what happens next, as these questions still need answers.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has put the entire world on hold. Though things are finally starting to open back up, the NHL season remains up in the air. The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the hiatus fighting for a playoff spot, placing ninth in the Eastern Conference in point percentage.
Under usual circumstances, this would have them out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But if the NHL goes straight to the postseason, it will likely be with an expanded format. The 24-team format is really starting to gain traction. This would benefit the Blue Jackets and give their season a second chance.
Their goal at the start of the season was to make the playoffs. The pandemic originally might have ruined it. But now it might give them the chance to do that, and make some noise in the process. Only time will tell if the Blue Jackets will find the answers to these questions.
1. Are They Finally Healthy Enough?
The Columbus Blue Jackets have faced numerous injuries this season. Star defenseman Seth Jones has missed 14 games due to injuries. Fellow blue liner Zach Werenski has missed eight games. Star forward Cam Atkinson has missed over 20 and so has young forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. Furthermore, Josh Anderson has only played 26 games while dealing with a shoulder injury.
In a way, the hiatus has been a blessing for them, as it’s giving the Blue Jackets a chance to finally get healthy. Most of their injured players are expected to return if the season starts back up. They’ll need all the help they can get, as they’re currently the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, which would guarantee them an unfavorable matchup in the first round or play-in round.
2. Can Their Goaltending Continue To Carry Them?
Going into this season, I didn’t know what the heck to expect from the Columbus Blue Jackets goalies. Joonas Korpisalo was entering his first year as the number one goalie, while Elvis Merzlikins had never played in an NHL game.
This season, the Blue Jackets goalies have been put to the test, having to replace Sergei Bobrovsky, who won two Vezina Trophies in Columbus. Both Korpisalo and Merzlikins have significantly outperformed Bobrovsky. In 37 games, the former has a .911% save percentage, which is above the league average. Meanwhile, the latter has emerged as a stud with a .923% save percentage in 33 games.
Merzlikins has been especially impressive as of late. Since the start of 2020, he has made 22 appearances, stopping over 93% of the shots on goal he has seen and posting five shutouts. Their team save percentage of .913% is the fifth-highest in the NHL. In the postseason, that could give them a huge advantage.
But on the other hand, goalies do best when they stay busy. They love routines and thrive when they have them. Through no fault of their own, the pandemic has messed a lot things up, and that includes everyone’s routines. The Blue Jackets need their goalies to get back on track, which is going to be a lot harder to do than it sounds.
3. Can The Columbus Blue Jackets Shock The World Again?
Last season, the Columbus Blue Jackets entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. This meant they had to face the President’s Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. Everyone was expecting the Bolts to sweep the Blue Jackets, or at least come close to doing so.
There was a sweep alright, but it was the Blue Jackets who came out on top. This was arguably the biggest shock of the salary cap era. The Blue Jackets took down the consensus Stanley Cup favorites, and they did it in four games. Even though they lost in the next round to the Boston Bruins, they pushed them to six games.
Throughout their history, the Blue Jackets have done their best work when their backs have been against the wall. Under head coach John Tortorella, they’ve done a great job as underdogs. This season could be another time for them to emerge as underdogs.
Next. Top 3 Players Blue Jackets Must Extend. dark
The odds will be against the Blue Jackets, once again. They will be in a very unfamiliar territory, as this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs likely won’t resemble anything hockey fans have seen before. Just like last year, the Blue Jackets will be facing a very tough road to the Stanley Cup Final. But maybe that’s the kind of situation this team will thrive in.