The 2017-2018 NHL season will be an exciting one for the Columbus Blue Jackets organization and fans. The Blue Jackets are coming off the best season in franchise history which featured many great and memorable games. Here are a few Columbus Blue Jackets games that could shape up to be the best in the upcoming season.
Top Columbus Blue Jackets Games To Watch This Season.
Chicago Blackhawks, in Chicago – October 7th
Earlier in the off-season the Blue Jackets and the Blackhawks made a huge trade. Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg were sent back to the Blackhawks and the Blue Jackets received Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte. Just two games into the season the two teams will face off. Both teams are coming off disappointing exits from the postseason and will be looking to prove something early in the season.
New York Rangers, at Nationwide Arena – October 13th
When the Blue Jackets and the Rangers play it is always eventful. With both teams expected to be competitors in a tough Metropolitan Division each game will be a fight. The goaltender matchup of Sergei Bobrovksy and Henrik Lundqvist should be a great one. Both can give their team a chance to win every night. Last year featured great games, including a game where Matt Calvert was hit in the face by the puck. Calvert came back into the game and scored the game-winning goal short-handed.
Washington Capitals, in Washington – December 2nd
Another Metro Division foe appears on this list and the Capitals will not be the last. Another great goaltender matchup this time between Bobrovsky and Braden Holtby. Holtby finished second in the Vezina Trophy voting last season, behind only Bobrovksy. When both goalies are on their game, they are hard to beat. What will make this matchup fun to watch is the players in front of the goalies. Both teams have elite Russian scorers that will take an advantage either goalie gives them.
Pittsburgh Penguins, in Pittsburgh – December 21st
Is anyone surprised the Penguins made this list? The Penguins are the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions and knocked Columbus out of the playoffs last season. All of that is on top of the fact that in Columbus the Penguins are hated. The Penguins are an all-around great team from goaltending to their offense. The Blue Jackets have great defense, goaltending and have added an elite score this off-season. Columbus will be looking to prove that they are better than the playoff series last year showed.
Nashville Predators, in Nashville – April 7th
The final game of the season will be not be an easy one. With each team expected to return to the playoffs, both could be fighting for position. The Predators made some key additions this off-season including former Blue Jacket Scott Hartnell and Penguins center Nick Bonino. Adding these pieces the Predators are poised to make another deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This game will be the final test to see how the Blue Jackets will fair in the Playoffs.
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