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5-Game Losing Streak & No Trades...Yet

February 18, 2020, 3:23 PM ET [6 Comments]
Thomas Townsend
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Which way is this ship headed? That is a question that Jarmo would love to know right about now. Is Columbus going to be a seller or a buyer at the deadline?

We have found out that this team can play a defense-first style of game that has been successful. The CBJ are playing with house money at this point. Once the dust settled on all the UFA's fleeing Columbus, many said that picking up Nyquist wasn't going to be enough. The goalie situation was too much of an unknown for this team to be any good.

Now they approach another trade deadline right on the bubble of a playoff birth, with a team that was expected to be competing for a high lottery pick. Inexperienced goaltending, injuries and youth in key positions haven't derailed this season. Even this current 5-game losing streak hasn't had an impact on the standings. When they started the losing streak they were just a point ahead of NYI for the 3rd position in the Metro. Today the CBJ sit in the top Wild Card spot with the same number of points at those NYI.

Losing the last three games to the NYR, NJD and BUF was a missed opportunity for Columbus. They managed only 2 of 6 possible points. If they had taken just one of those games and grabbed a single point more they would hold the 3rd spot in the Metro. Forcing overtime in two of the three has allowed them to say atop the Wild Card.

This week sees the Jackets play a home-at-home with PHI tonight and Thursday followed by a trip to NSH on Saturday. They finish the month with OTT at home and then another home-at-home with MIN. While the Flyers are nipping at the heels of the Jackets, the Sens and Wild are significantly lower in the standings. Columbus needs to turn it around against teams that are below them in the standings. Getting single points in games they need to win to solidify a playoff spot won't turn out well for them come April.

With the Islanders off tonight, Columbus could claim the 3rd place in the Metro standings. Let's hope it is with 2 points rather than just 1.

Keep an eye out for line juggling tonight. It seems that Stenlund has drawn into the top center position between Gus and Bjork. While PLD has Sonny and Bem on his wings. Think Torts is trying to send Dubois a message? Maybe, maybe it is just a chemistry thing with Senlund, Gus and Bjork.

Good Luck and Go Jackets!
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