Scouting Report: The Blue Jackets Look to Bounce Back vs. Metro Rival New York Islanders

Columbus Blue Jackets (19-11-1) vs. the New York Islanders (17-11-3)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017, 7 p.m. (NATIONWIDE ARENA)

It's fair to say not many people expected much of the New York Islanders this year.

For example, one analyst wrote this as the team was off to a 2-3-1 start.

"It’s hard to see how this team contends. ... New York hasn’t scored a power-play goal this season, and there's no consistent goal scorer on the team other than John Tavares."

Since those words were committed to pixels, the Isles have gone 15-8-2 and become one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league. So what buffoon wrote that drivel?

IT ME!

Never let the record show that I run from my stupidity. But I was flat wrong, to be honest, as the Islanders have become, if not a force to be reckoned with, but a team that has proved fully capable of going step for step with the best in the deepest division in hockey.

As I said, one of the main reasons is the team's offense, which right now is second in the league at 3.48 goals per game. Tavares has continued to be elite with 34 points, as expected, but he's found help from Josh Bailey (35 points), Anders Lee (32) and standout rookie Mathew Barzel (28).

You Oughta Know: Mathew Barzal

Wait, was that the foreshadowing machine I just cranked up there? You bet. The emergence of the 20-year-old Barzal, who leads all first-year players with 20 assists (including a Panarin, aka, five in one game) and is tied with Vancouver's Brock Boeser for most points with 28, has been a big reason for the success of the Islanders offense. Barzal, a first-round pick in the 2015 draft, has used copious amounts of skill and confidence to become a key piece of the puzzle. “I’m a LeBron guy,” Barzal said earlier this year. “Either you realize he’s the best or you’re just a hater.”.See, we told you the confidence is real. So is the skill.

Barzal is such a beautiful player to watch. Moves like a lava lamp listening to a smooth John Mayer joint. #Calder https://t.co/6fB2nhutrI

— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) December 6, 2017

Fast Facts

• The Islanders have allowed eight shorthanded goals this season, tied for most in the NHL.
• New York is just 2-4-1 thus far in December.
• The Islanders are unbeaten at 11-0-0 when scoring first, but that has happened just 11 times in 31 games.
• Dating back to Nov. 25, 2016, Islanders forward Anders Lee has 50 goals, including two last night.

Previous Matchups

THIS YEAR: The teams have played just once, and you probably remember it. Behind an early offensive explosion, Columbus posted a 5-0 win over the Isles in the season opener in Nationwide Arena.

ALL TIME SERIES: Columbus leads 18-8-1-5

Keys to the Game

ONE: Starting strong would seem to be important. Not only did the Islanders play last night, falling at home to Dallas, but Columbus quickly needs to get the bad taste from Tuesday's game out of its mouth. Then again, we said the same thing a week ago after a rough Tuesday loss to the Devils, and the Jackets were quickly down 2-0 in the return trip to New Jersey. So who knows.

TWO: Score on the power play. OK, you could probably say that every game, but one key glaring weakness for the Islanders is the penalty kill, which checks in as the second worst in the NHL. 

THREE: Defend the realm. Columbus is 11-6-0 at home, and while the Islanders have lost just twice in the Barlcays Center, the team is 8-9-1 on the road.

Team Projected Lineup