Who's up for a road trip?
As the regular season winds down and as the importance of every game becomes ultra-magnified, the Blue Jackets are heading to western Canada for a three-game trip. It's the kind of trip that helps a team put its stamp on a season, or on the other hand, has it fighting for its life with precious games remaining.
The Blue Jackets are 10-1-0 in their last 11 games, earning the "1" by virtue of a 2-1 loss at home to St. Louis on Saturday. It ended their 10-game winning streak that changed their outlook on the stretch run, from trying to hang in the race to separating and setting sights on moving up in the division.
For now, though, the momentum has briefly stalled and they have to get back on track.
It won't be easy. Nothing is easy this time of year, even if you're facing a trio of opponents that aren't going to the playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers, tonight's opponent at Rogers Place, are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and boast a superstar in Connor McDavid who's been lighting it up lately; McDavid has 99 points in what's otherwise been a lost season for the Oilers, who entered with high hopes but became sure-fire trade deadline sellers.
The Calgary Flames have fallen off the pace and have lost five in a row. But they're always tough at home, and they don't lack talent. The Blue Jackets have to navigate this trip very carefully before heading home to close out the season with three Eastern Conference opponents and a road trip to Nashville; they need points on this trip because the teams around them aren't mailing it in.
Florida is keeping pace and won again last night. The Devils are three points back of the Blue Jackets and just beat the East's top team, Tampa Bay, on Saturday night. This thing is far from over and points are critical – and there's no excuse for the Blue Jackets to not collect a handful on this road trip. It's imperative.
YOU SHOULD BE READING
- Princeton Tigers captain Eric Robinson, a college free agent, signed with the Blue Jackets yesterday and will join them in Edmonton. He'll wear No. 50, last worn by Antoine Vermette.
- A big blow at center ice for the Blue Jackets as captain Nick Foligno was injured late in Saturday's game. He's expected to miss 2-4 weeks of action.
- Our friend CBJ Prospects authored a guest post for 1OB, assessing the state of the Blue Jackets' organization pipeline and some prospects to watch.
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