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Ugly Win, Trade Rumors and PHI in the house

November 27, 2019, 3:23 PM ET [8 Comments]
Thomas Townsend
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
In addition to this being US Thanksgiving week, here in Columbus this is Beat Michigan week. I should have typed that 'Beat Xichigan week'. For those of you not from or residing in Columbus, or those who are not college football fans, this is a big week in Buckeyeland. All the 'M's in town get a giant red X through them, no one dares wear the color blue (ironic that the Jackets primary color IS blue) and we don't speak the word Michigan, they are simply referred to as That Team Up North (TTUN for short). Most of the residents of Columbus don't pay attention to hockey until after the new year.

For the Blue Jackets this may actually be a good thing. They have begun to put together a string of good games and could end November in decent shape. Currently they are in 7th place in the Metro behind everyone except NJD. However, they find themselves only 7 points back of CAR (3rd in the division) with a game at hand. They are over .500 (just barely) with 24 points in 23 games. And while it may not always be pretty (reference to Monday's game v. OTT) they have found a way to win a few games lately.

And let's talk about that W over OTT

When sports fans tell you they don't like to watch hockey because its boring and there isn't enough scoring we die-hard fans take exception. But if any non-hockey sports fans watched CBJ-OTT on Monday night, that was the exact game they should reference when making their argument. It was a game that only a hockey fan could love. Shots were few, there was only one goal and neither goaltender had to be exceptional to win. The fact that Columbus could hold on to a one-goal lead in the third was a bright spot. And it is always a confidence booster to have your tendy get a shutout. But, man, that was an ugly game.

Elvis has left the building, or wait...

Elvis got sent down on Tuesday, played in the AHL, got his first North American hockey win, and got called back up. Obviously, he was meant to get some playing time. I don't think we can read anything into it.

The Flyers

Philadelphia is 12-7-5 (29 points) and sits in 5th place in the Metro. If you ask any Flyers fan they are a little disappointed with their team at this point in the season. They have higher expectations this year. There is expectation of making the playoffs, then once in, advancing. If the season ended yesterday they would be in as the second wild card.

PHI comes in having beaten VAN at home 2-1 and 2-1-2 in their last 5. They are in the middle of the pack when it comes to GF (72) and GA (72). They have seven players with 10 or more points this season. And it's not the names you might expect. Konecny (23) leads the team in points while Lindblom (9) leads the team in goals. Young goalie phenom Carter Hart is 7-5-3 with a 2.54 GAA and a .900 Sv%. Those aren't Vezina numbers but, they are solid and a good way to begin your NHL career. Hart and Elliot have been splitting time in net, so it could be either one tonight.

The Flyers have not performed well in Columbus. The have one (1) win in their last 14 games in NWA. But have played past the end of regulation 8 times (1-6-7). Each game is a snowflake and the previous and future games have little bearing on what will happen tonight, just pointing out recent history.

Trade Rumors

If you are a frequent flyer (pun intended) here you are aware of Ek's Rumor Chart. It is up once again and has some interesting names on it. Most of us know that these are fun discussion topics and mostly click bait. But, I have been beating the drum of wanting more scoring as soon as possible and the only way the CBJ are going to get it this time of year is from a trade. On 'The Chart' Columbus is linked to two players: Chris Kreider and Ryan Donato. Neither of these guys will end up in Columbus and this is why. Kreider is also linked to CHI and WPG as well as the fact that he may just stay put on a NYR team that is looking toward the playoffs. Not to mention that in-season trades within the division are tougher to pull off. Donato is an interesting player. MIN is also not playing well (last in the central) and in the Western Conference. I would say this would be more likely except the fact that he is like a lot of the other CBJ talent, young and not yet producing. His 5 points in 23 games doesn't solve the scoring issues.

Others on the list could solve scoring woes and would be an intriguing fit. Drouin has 15 points for MON and has always been discussed as a high-end offensive talent. But again, why would MON part with him as they are playing well and the CBJ are an in-division foe. Then there is Taylor Hall. NJD could turn their season around, look at STL last year? New Jersey made a splash in the off-season hoping to be able to re-sign Hall, but that hasn't happened yet. They could keep him and hope he stays (Panarin, Bob, Tavares, anyone?), but they will likely move him when the price is right. Columbus is an in-division team, but if NJD is selling because they think Hall is leaving anyway they are going to auction him off to the highest bidder. And Columbus has pieces to bid with. There is young talent ready to enter the NHL in the Columbus pipeline and there are defensemen that NJD desperately need. CBJ will not overpay for a rental this season (see Duchene) and that could be a non-starter for NJD this far before the deadline.

I wrote last week about the importance of the last two weeks of November (7 games). Eight points in those games was a must. Currently, four games in the Jackets are 3-1 with 6 points. A win tonight and they would hit that 8-point mark with two more to play. But losing this one in regulation would mean winning one of two in a back-to-back with PIT and NYI.

Good Luck and Go Jackets
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