Game Preview: Blue Jackets Host Islanders Saturday As Jack Roslovic And Emil Bemstrom Look To Continue Their Heaters

NEW YORK ISLANDERS
3-2-1 (7 pts; .583%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE
7:00 P.M. – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 NATIONWIDE ARENA  COLUMBUS, OH
TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ (Out of Market)
ODDS & PROJECTIONS:
ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK: 47%
TIPICO SPORTSBOOK: CBJ +130

The last time the Columbus Blue Jackets had points in five straight games, the game-winner was scored by Mikhail Grigorenko and assisted by Vladislav Gavrikov and Mikko Lehtonen. 

It was also a multi-point night for Cam Atkinson and Oliver Bjorkstrand, and would be the third-to-last home game at Nationwide Arena for Seth Jones.

In other words, it's been a while. 

But with a win (or even an overtime point) Saturday night against the New York Islanders, the Blue Jackets can pick up points in five consecutive games for the first time since May 5th, 2021 — a span of 174 games and 906 days. 

They can also keep a bit of momentum going early in what has been a modestly successful first 10% of the season. With only two regulation losses through seven games, Columbus is meeting expectations at worst, and exceeding them for most.

Here's what to know when the puck drops from the Nationwide Arena:

TALKING POINTS: NYI

• A goal in the third period gave the Islanders a win Thursday night over the Ottawa Senators, stopping an early-season three-game losing streak.
   
• New York has given up shots in bunches this season — at least 38 in each of their last four goals, only one of which has went to overtime. They were also outshot in each of those games. 
   
• The Islanders have a penalty kill of just 75% — but take it with a grain of salt. Outside of a disastrous four power play goals allowed on five attempts against the New Jersey Devils last Saturday, the Isles PK unit has killed 17 of 19 opposition power plays (89%).

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• Whatever Emil Bemstrom and Jack Roslovic are having, give it to the rest of the team. These were a couple of forwards who were rapidly approaching (if not already at) the make-or-break stage of their career with the Blue Jackets, and both are making it in big ways to start the season. Bemstrom has three goals, including a pair of power play goals in Thursday's overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Roslovic is averaging more than four points per 60 minutes, and has looked to make strides on his play away from the puck as well.
   
• Despite 27 shots on goal through seven games, Johnny Gaudreau hasn't found the back of the net yet this season. Only Florida's Matthew Tkachuk has more shots (28) without a goal so far, but Tkachuk has more than twice the expected goals (4.1) as Gaudreau (1.9). While that is no doubt frustrating for Johnny and likely for many fans as well, it's worth pointing out that the Blue Jackets are staying above .500 without goals from Gaudreau (cold streak) and Patrik Laine (recipient of dirty hit). That's promising.
   
• Dmitri Voronkov was solid in his debut. He picked up an the secondary assist on one of Bemstrom's power play goals and deserved it for a good keep-in seconds earlier, but more than the point was his physical play. He got into a fight on his second NHL shift, which sounds like it has to be a record and if it isn't, is a shift away from mathematically tying one. He did take a penalty, but did enough Thursday to keep an eye on Saturday.

Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change