{"id":2215,"date":"2016-10-08T18:45:45","date_gmt":"2016-10-08T22:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=2215"},"modified":"2016-10-11T13:41:37","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T17:41:37","slug":"tough-october-critical-blue-jackets-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/10\/08\/tough-october-critical-blue-jackets-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Tough October Critical To Blue Jackets’ Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a pattern that feels all-too-familiar to fans of the\u00a0Columbus Blue Jackets<\/strong>, the club is once again facing an exceedingly tough schedule in the 2016-17 season. After last year’s 18 back-to-back series, tied for most in the league, this year’s schedule includes a league-most 19 back-to-back games. What’s more, this year looks to be front-loaded with difficult games, a fact that won’t be comforting to fans of a team that began the 2015-16 season with a record of zero wins and eight losses and never managed to pull themselves out of the league’s doldrums. If the Jackets hope to have any success in the 2016-17 season, they’ll have to fight through October’s imposing slate of games featuring many of the league’s best teams.<\/p>\n

The Cream of the Crop<\/h2>\n

The Blue Jackets’ season begins in earnest on October 13 with a home game against the\u00a0Boston Bruins<\/strong> at\u00a0Nationwide Arena<\/strong>, and only becomes more difficult from there. After facing a Bruins team looking to return to the playoffs, the next matchup comes against the\u00a0San Jose Sharks<\/strong> on October 15, a club fresh off of a playoff run to the\u00a0Stanley Cup Final<\/strong> and hoping to repeat and build upon that success again this time around.<\/p>\n

Following the faceoff against the Sharks, the Jackets then play their final home game of October against the familiar and ever-dangerous\u00a0Chicago Blackhawks<\/strong> on October 21. Despite the home ice advantage that comes with each of these matchups, the statistics heavily favor the away team in each of them. All three teams finished last season within the top half of the league in terms of points, and within the top 10 in terms of goals scored per game and powerplay percentage. The key to success will be to stay out of the penalty box and to limit the amount of shots that find their way through to\u00a0Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On the Road Again<\/h2>\n

After this three-game home stand, the Jackets take to the road for the remainder of October in a tough Westward swing. Beginning with a game against the\u00a0Dallas Stars<\/strong> on October 22, the club will head out to the West Coast to visit each of California’s three teams: The\u00a0Los Angeles Kings<\/strong> on October 25, a rematch against the Sharks on October 27, and finally a trip back to Los Angeles County on October 28 to take on the\u00a0Anaheim Ducks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If the three-game home stand was difficult, then this road trip has the potential to be crushing by comparison. The Stars possess the highest-scoring offense of 2015-16 and will be up against a Jackets defense that allowed the second-most goals throughout all of last season. Furthermore, the Kings sat atop the P<\/strong>acific Division\u00a0<\/strong>last year, while the Ducks boasted the best powerplay percentage in the entire NHL and had a goalie in\u00a0John Gibson<\/a><\/strong> that allowed the second-fewest goals against at an average of 2.07 per game.<\/p>\n

Back-to-Back Blues<\/h2>\n

To add more difficulty to an already brutal first month, two of the Jackets’ 19 back-to-back series take place in the month of October, the first of which requires the team to travel over 1,000 miles from Columbus to Dallas overnight before traveling over 1,400 more miles to reach Los Angeles. While the second back-to-back requires traveling a mere 365 miles between San Jose and Anaheim, the team will undoubtedly still feel the full effect of both the distance traveled and the battle of the night before. Combined with the difficulty of the teams they have to face, this distance could wear down the Jackets and make an already brutal month that much harder.<\/p>\n

The Good News<\/h2>\n

With the combination of last year’s sluggish start and the uncompromising start to this year’s campaign, it’s understandable for fans of the Jackets to feel concerned about a repeat of last season. On the other hand, however, there are a multitude of reasons to be optimistic moving forward. Firstly, and not least importantly, is the form of number one goaltender (and cop) Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky struggled throughout last season with injury and a lack of confidence, but has seemingly made great strides in this off-season. After shedding approximately 17 pounds, or 8.5% of his body weight, Bobrovsky went on to provide a stellar performance in net for\u00a0Team Russia\u00a0<\/strong>at the\u00a0World Cup of Hockey<\/strong>, where he saved 133 of 143 (.930 SV%) shots faced before falling to eventual champions\u00a0Team Canada<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Sergei Bobrovsky is a star between the pipes but the youth around him at the position has @DMaetzMedia<\/a> excited for #CBJ<\/a> #CountdownToFaceoff<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/EDAoVfT9kj<\/a><\/p>\n

— FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati (@FanDuelSN_CIN) October 7, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n