Columbus Blue Jackets For Dummies and Game Prediction
Given the odd ending to the 2019/2020 NHL season, and the even odder playoffs that followed in the middle of the summer, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to many NHL fans across the globe that the 2020/2021 season will have its own complications and abnormalities.
A shortened season, only 56 games, pales in comparison on a scale of abnormality when compared to the new divisions that will dictate opponents and playoff chances for this season only. Most NHL executives remain optimistic that the 2021/2022 NHL season should feature a return to almost entirely normal.
In the meantime, new divisions mean new opponents. It wasn’t always the way, but fans have gotten used to the idea of their favorite team facing off against each team in the league on at least two occasions, with inner-conference and inner-division opponents and rivals being more frequent opponents.
This year, however, until teams make it relatively deep into the playoffs, teams will only face the other teams within their division. Being part of the Central division, Detroit will be facing off against the other seven teams (Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, Nashville, Tampa Bay) eight times each throughout the season, with the top four teams in the Division at season’s end given a playoff berth.
Of the seven other teams in the division, only Florida and Tampa Bay join the Red Wings as familiar opponents from the Atlantic Division that Detroit has called home since the 2013/2014 NHL season. Given that’s it been ten months since Red Wings hockey, what does each new Divisional Rival have in store for Detroit?
Let’s take a deeper look in this brief series, Central Opponents for Dummies, starting with Detroit’s second opponent of the 2020/2021 season: The Columbus Blue Jackets.
2021 Columbus Blue Jackets vs Detroit Red Wings
There are two things you really need to know about the Blue Jackets. The first; Columbus can't have nice things.
It seems like only yesterday that Columbus won their first playoff series in franchise history by upsetting cup-favorite Tampa Bay in a sweep, only to be swept by the Boston Bruins in the second round. Noteworthy star power including Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and Sergei Bobrovsky helped secure the Jackets their first playoff series win in franchise history in an epic manner.
All three of those elite players left the organization the following summer.
Despite the considerable blow to the organization, Columbus made the qualifying round for the 2019/2020 playoffs and eliminated another (on paper) cup favorite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Led by the excellent play of their new goaltending tandem featuring Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, the coaching system of John Tortorella, and emerging youngster Pierre-Luc Dubois.
They were eliminated in the first official round of the playoffs by Tampa Bay in 5 games. Tampa, after getting their revenge from the astonishing 2018/2019 upset, went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Dubois, Columbus's best forward without much doubt, has now requested a trade out of the organization, confirmed by aforementioned head coach John Tortorella.
The second thing you need to know will be said at least once if not several times during the broadcast this afternoon; Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski are friends. I'm calling this now, there will be an interview with Werenski on how he feels about Larkin being named Captain of the Red Wings.
Werenski and his frequent defensive partner Seth Jones are one of the most prolific defensive pairings in the league. Both should be considered high-end defensemen, and how Columbus has still managed to hang onto both (given their record of keeping star players) is astounding.
The Blue Jackets' home arena, Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, has become more known for its cannon than the recently winning hockey club that resides there.
Detroit still holds favor in their all-time record against the Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets joined the NHL in 2000 and had the misfortune of playing one of the most dominant Red Wings teams in history frequently. Since then, Detroit holds a favorable 59-39-1 record against Columbus.
However, Detroit has dropped their last four consecutive contests against The Blue Jackets, including all three contests in the 2019/2020 season. Detroit's last win against Columbus, a 5-3 victory at Nationwide Arena, was on October 30th of 2018.
Forward Comparisons
When comparing rosters, at least on paper, Columbus is one of the few teams in the league that promotes a legitimate argument that Detroit has the better offense. Pierre-Luc Dubois is clearly the best forward on their roster until he's moved.
Depending on the return for Dubois, the drop off to "next best forward" is substantial. Atkinson has previously been a high-tier contributor to the offense, but at 31 it's reasonable to assume his production is going to slow. Captain Nick Foligno, while good in many facets of the game, is 33 and falls into the same category.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, 25, has plenty of skill and production in his own right, but his production would likely fall in the absence of Dubois. If his production stays the same, he could be an easy candidate for the best forward on the team, but likely will not reach the level of Dubois, who is 3 years younger.
Defensive Comparisons
On defense, it's hard to give Detroit much of an advantage when Jones and Werenski are involved. After one of the best defensive pairings in the league, the Jackets don't exactly have a plethora of skill to write home about from the defensive corps, but Werenski and Jones sometimes play half of the entire game.
Detroit doesn't have much either in terms of defensive depth, and their top-end defense, even with consideration to Filip Hronek, doesn't hold a candle to Jones and Werenski.
Goalie Comparisons
In-net the emerging play of Korpisalo and Merzlikins is hard to deny. Both had dominating performances in the 2019/2020 season, including a memorable quintuple overtime performance by Korpisalo against the Lightning during the playoffs, where Joonas turned aside 85 of 88 shots.
While Greiss and Bernier are forming a formidable duo of their own in Detroit, if Merzlikins and Korpisalo can play at the same level they did last season, there isn't much comparison.
Overall
Columbus is one of the more interesting opponents in the Central Division for Detroit. They could take the edge most nights or Detroit might take the edge of most nights. It will all fall down to the coaching battle between John Tortorella and Jeff Blashill, which isn't a coaching battle that favors Detroit.
Columbus comes into tonight's game 0-2 following consecutive losses to the Nashville Predators. The Blue Jackets squad will be hungry for their first win of the season and Tortorella won't allow them to take Detroit lightly.
Detroit has never beaten the Blue Jackets at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets 1-18-2021
Today’s Venue: Little Caesar's Arena
CBJ All-Time Record at Venue: 4-0-0
DET Record: 1-1-0
CBJ Record: 0-2-0
Season Series: 0-0-0
Goaltender DET: T. Greiss
(22 GP, 10-8-3, .908 S%, 2.78 GAA All-Time Against Columbus)
Goaltender CAR: J. Korpisalo
(5 GP, 4-0-0, .862 SV%, 3.55 GAA All-Time Against Detroit)
Players to watch (DET): D. Larkin, B. Ryan, F. Zadina
Players to watch (CBJ): P-L. Dubois, Z. Werenski, J. Korpisalo
Red Wings vs Blue Jackets Odds for 1-18-2021 from Draft Kings
DraftKings Moneyline: DET +143 CBJ -167
Draft Kings Puckline: DET +1.5, CBJ -1.5
Draft Kings O/U: 5.5
Jesse's Prediction: 3-1 CBJ
Matt's Prediction: 3-2 DET
Mike's Prediction: 3-2 DET
