Peace out, wild card!
For now, at least, the Columbus Blue Jackets are sitting in one of the top-three spots in the Metropolitan Division, good, bettering their chances for a favorable matchup come April in the postseason.
Thanks to a three-point afternoon from Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Blue Jackets were able to stave off the Montreal Canadiens, keeping their eight-game point streak alive.
I'll keep saying it - but for a team that was third-to-last in the NHL in early December...this is absolutely amazing.
Let's discuss in today's Three Things.
Dubois Doubles Down
Pierre-Luc Dubois is a man amongst boys on most game days for the Blue Jackets, and he really drove home that point on Sunday afternoon.
PLD is able to do it all by himself to make it 2-0. Grown man play. pic.twitter.com/oSJpIUeYnC#CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 2, 2020
It seems Dubois can be fairly inconsistent with his presence on the score sheet, but the past month has been an exception. In the last 30 days, he has had 15 points in 13 games, and broke out for his fourth three-point game of the season (two goals and one assist), and second in the past three contests.
PLD makes the most of a Price mistake and beats him on the wraparound.pic.twitter.com/qZU0CLuYQw#CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 2, 2020
If the Blue Jackets want to make any noise in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Dubois will need to carry some weight on his 21-year-old shoulders. As the team leader in points (41), it's looking like he has it in him.
Moving Up In The (Hockey) World
The Blue Jackets are now official owners of the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, and it feels oh so good. Granted, they only have one point on the New York Islanders (right behind them) with three more games played, but we're going to celebrate this as long as we can.
Folks #CBJ pic.twitter.com/nSgJs8d3Ly
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 2, 2020
The Metro as a whole is a bloodbath, so it's expected the Blue Jackets will drop a few games in a row at times from here until season's end, but they have certainly done their due diligence to try and up their place in the NHL standings.
The less of a chance to play the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals or Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, the better.
We're Gonna Keep Streaking!
The last two months have been streak after streak for the Blue Jackets. After a 12-game point streak died, the club made up another, and are now on an eight-game point streak. Looks like they clearly weren't satisfied with their last one - and it's helping their playoff odds immensely.
Vibes #CBJ pic.twitter.com/zlHcFuRt26
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 2, 2020
This is assuming they make it there, though the streak they have been on in the past two calendar months is pretty convincing.
The Blue Jackets have earned points in - wait for it - 22(!!!) of their last 24 games, taking 39 of 48 possible points. All of this without a true offensive superstar. Let that sink in.
