In all the excitement of last week’s NHL Entry Draft, the official release of the 2016-2017 NHL schedule managed to fly under the radar. Now, with that whirlwind of activity firmly in the rearview, fans of The Columbus Blue Jackets will begin the long, familiar wait until puck drop on opening night. In the spirit of looking forward, Last Word on Sports’ three resident Fifth Liners, Sean Merz, Nic Hendrickson, and Deana Weinheimer, sat down and pored over the recently released schedule. With new staff and new players looking to make their marks on the club and on the league, quite a few match ups stick out as potential blockbusters. The following list of ten games, spread across the season, could help shape the fate of the Jackets’ next campaign, for better or worse.
Strong Start in 2016
Game 1: 10/13/2016 vs. The Boston Bruins
Unsurprisingly, the three unanimously agreed to begin with, well, the beginning. After yet another poor season on the back of yet another abysmal start, the Union Blue faithful will certainly be hoping for an inverse Todd Richards, that is to say a successful early season run. With a full training camp and a new defensive coach under his belt, head coach John Tortorella will look to start the season off with a bang (or perhaps a few, depending on goal tallies). The importance of confidence cannot be understated in the realm of professional hockey, and momentum can be built or lost from day one in the NHL. This matchup looks to be one of big hits, with two predominantly physical clubs going head to head in what should prove to be a bruising battle.
Game 2: 10/15/2016 vs. The San Jose Sharks
Sean Merz: Despite how early in the season this matchup occurs, the fact remains that the Sharks will come into Nationwide Arena as the reigning Western Conference Champions and will certainly be looking to replicate that feat. Both clubs should desire to improve upon their performances last season, with the Sharks coming off of a heartbreaking loss in the Stanley Cup Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Jackets failing to make the playoffs at all. It will be interesting to see who Tortorella includes in his lines and pairings, as well as the changes he makes following game 1. If the Jackets manage to replicate the shot-blocking efforts of the Penguins in the Cup Final, they should be able to keep the game close and build confidence along the way.
Game 3: 10/21/2016 vs. The Chicago Blackhawks
Nic Hendrickson: Coach Tortorella talked repeatedly last year about the necessity of turning Nationwide Arena into a fortress, and that starts with strong fan turnout. In years past, Blackhawks fans have absolutely swarmed the Arena, essentially turning it into a home away from home. As such, the atmosphere surrounding these games tends to be tense and combative, and the play on ice reflects that as well. These two former Western Conference rivals never seem to pull any hits, and the games can be very back and forth as a result. Regardless of how early this game is, beating one of the best teams in the league can certainly boost confidence going forward, something the Blue Jackets desperately need.
Midseason Grind
Game 4: 12/22/2016 vs. The Pittsburgh Penguins
Like the home opener, this late December matchup with the reigning Stanley Cup Champions is one that was instantly circled, highlighted, and underlined by all three writers. Whether Penguins fans care to admit it or not, the heated nature of matchups between these two Metropolitan Division teams, combined with a tense playoff series a few years back, has spawned a bit of an interstate rivalry. As is the case with Blackhawks fans, supporters of the Penguins always manage to find their way into Nationwide Arena and cause problems. The hostility between fans often reflects on the ice and has led to countless questionable hits and fistfights. Both teams should be in full stride by the time this game rolls around, and the result may prove to be another spectacular entry in this young rivalry.
Game 5: 1/26/2017 at The Nashville Predators
Sean Merz: Firmly in the long, grinding middle of the season, this matchup will come as the 4th game in five straight days and will be Columbus’ first and only visit to Nashville on the season. Depending on where the two clubs are coming into this match, a win in Music City would nonetheless serve as an injection of confidence into a tired Jackets team. Additionally, Ryan Johansen will be in the middle of his first full season with the Preds, and it will be intriguing to see him stack up against his old teammates.
Game 6: 2/11/2017 vs. The Detroit Red Wings
Deana Weinheimer: Detroit is another team that brings a lot of visiting fans into Nationwide. This will be the second game out of a seven game home stand that will also include the likes of Toronto, New York, and Nashville. Similar to the Penguins game, the team and fans will need to energize each other to pull out a crucial win against another interstate and former divisional rival.
Late Season Push (to the Playoffs?)
Game 7: 3/13/2017 at The Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Merz: Though not truly a rivalry game, matchups between the Flyers and Jackets tend to be physical, bruising affairs due to each club’s toughness and take-no-flak attitudes. The teams will certainly play aggressively if both are still in contention for a playoff run at this point in the season. Playing in Philly, in front of a hostile crowd, a win for a postseason-poised Jackets squad could do wonders for confidence and simultaneously push the Flyers further away from that playoff berth.
Game 8: 3/18/2017 at The New York Islanders
Deana Weinheimer: This is about the time of the season that teams start becoming eliminated for the Stanley Cup playoffs. One wonders if the Jackets will be in contention at this stage, or if they’ll be close to being eliminated for the 14th season. Matching up against a strong, talented Metropolitan rival, will the Jackets be pushing for a spot in the playoffs or beginning to plan tee times? Either way, a strong performance in Brooklyn could bring a smile to the faces of fans and pundits alike as the season winds down.
Game 9: 3/23/2017 at The Washington Capitals
Sean Merz: The fourth game in a six-game divisional stretch, this late season encounter between the Jackets and the reigning Presidents’ Trophy holders has the potential for massive playoff implications. The CBJ will look to earn every possible point from their divisional foes coming down the home stretch, but the Caps are not a team to roll over and give them up easily. Shutting down the offensive powerhouse of the Washington forwards will be half the battle, with the other half requiring the Jackets to find a way to score on late-season Braden Holtby. It is no easy task, but if Columbus can escape the nation’s capital with a point or two, it will greatly aid any hopes at a postseason berth.
Game 10: 4/6/2017 vs. The Winnipeg Jets
Deana Weinheimer: The final regular season home game of the season always brings an exciting atmosphere to Nationwide Arena. Will the fans be celebrating a potential playoff berth, or walking away from another lost season at the end of this game? If all goes well and the Jackets earn a spot in the playoffs, the final home game of the season may not be that at all.
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 27: Cam Atkinson #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets gets a hug from teammate Boone Jenner #38 after s coring a goal in the first period against the Chicaho Blackhawks at the United Center on March 27, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
