Something HAS gone right lately. Promise!
The Blue Jackets blew a game in Brooklyn on Saturday. That wasn't much fun.
They've left points on the table in home games against Minnesota and San Jose in the last week. It's put them in a tough spot, merely a point above the playoff line in the East and teams like the Islanders, Rangers and Hurricanes linger without (to this point) putting any kind of run together.
While this has gone on around them, the Blue Jackets have been trying to get their own house in order. The problems start with their staggering lack of offense, in which the margin between their average offensive output and their goaltender's goals against average is a fraction of a decimal point. That's a pretty damning look at where they stand.
Cam Atkinson's return was hopefully something to get them going. As it turns out, they're 1-2-1 in four games since he return from a foot injury, but he's the one who's gotten going – and hey, the Blue Jackets will take a small victory right now. He's got two goals in those four games including the late game-winner in Arizona, and also scored a big goal on Saturday night to tie the game and answer an Islanders goal minutes earlier.
This is a 25-goal scorer, and last year, he was a 35-goal scorer. Atkinson signed a lucrative extension earlier this season and is locked in as part of the Blue Jackets' core, and they count on him to score. So far in 2017-18, it hasn't happened the way it did a year ago but since the return, Atkinson has looked a lot like the player we've seen develop into one of the NHL's more consistent goal scorers.
For the Blue Jackets, that's a "cross your fingers and hope this continues" development.
SOLOOOOOOO
Oh hey, Star Wars talk is back!
This trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story looks absolutely stunning.
A space western. Donald Glover as Lando. Woody Harrelson. An unknown and terrifying new villain. New planets, new settings, and a story that leads us to the charming smuggler we all know and love. Take my money, Ron Howard.
YOU SHOULD BE READING
- Paul Berthelot went in-depth on Rick Nash and compared his offensive output to some of the players the Blue Jackets are currently counting on to score. It's interesting, to say the least.
- In this week's "What We Learned," it's clear the Blue Jackets are overdue for a roster shakeup...and no, we don't mean a waiver wire pickup (sorry, Jussi).
- Speaking of Nash, he confirmed that he submitted a 12-team "approved list" to the Rangers over the weekend.
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