The Columbus Blue Jackets have played a recent stretch that saw them play 10 games in 17 days. After a much-needed two-day break, the team jumps right back into the playoff race Tuesday night starting off an important homestand.
The Blue Jackets will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night in the first of three meetings between the two teams down the stretch. After that, the Blue Jackets will host the New York Rangers on Thursday, the Seattle Kraken on Saturday then immediately jump on the road to play one of their most important games of the season when they play the New York Islanders.
Monday’s results did the Blue Jackets hardly any favors. The Detroit Red Wings handled the Calgary Flames. The Pittsburgh Penguins crushed the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. The one slight bit of help they got was when the New Jersey Devils defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime.
The Blue Jackets will start the week two points back of both the Bruins and Islanders while holding games in hand. Given the way the teams ahead of the Blue Jackets keep finding ways to get points, they know what’s at stake. They have to keep the pace or else run the risk of falling off course.
We talked on Sunday about the Blue Jackets better defense of late. Zach Werenski and Adam Fantilli spoke to the Hockey Writers on Monday about that and some other topics leading into this most important week of games.
Defense Seeing Results
The Blue Jackets held their last three road opponents, the Lightning, the Panthers and the Flyers to a combined 58 shots on goal. That’s never been done in team history hold three straight opponents to 21 or fewer shots and 58 or less shots combined.
For Werenski, he sees that the whole team has bought in.
“I think whenever you can go on a road trip like that and get five of six points and not really give up much, it obviously shows that it’s working,” Werenski said. “I think we’ve all bought into it. I think that’s the hardest thing is making sure everyone’s on board and we’re all on board. We all love the way we’re playing. We love the results we’re getting and I think that’s the most important thing. When you start seeing actual results and you’re getting wins and you’re getting points and you’re climbing in the standings, the proof is right there. I think it makes it a lot easier to go out there and play that style. We’ve enjoyed it. We’re a frustrating team We’re frustrating good teams and good players. That’s a credit to how we played as a team. It’s our team game.”
For Fantilli, he knows his team is limiting the opposition’s chances. The scoreboard is reflecting what they’re doing as a team.
“When you look up at the scoreboard after the first period in both Tampa and Florida (shots 9-4 in Tampa and 14-3 in Florida), we’re carrying the play,” Fantilli said. “We’re imposing our will early. I think that’s something that’s been important for us to get out to a strong start and then continuing to play that way throughout the game. We’re limiting their chances and it’s helping us create offense, so it’s been great.”
The Blue Jackets know this is the way they’ll have to play if they hope to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Since Rick Bowness took over the team, the Blue Jackets have been the third best defensive team in the NHL with only Dallas and Ottawa ahead of them. For the head coach, while the shot clock can be misleading sometimes, he’s pleased that the overall scoring chances are down.
“I don’t really judge that as much as the chances against. That’s the biggest concern,” Bowness said. “And the chances against are way down. If they get thirty shots and 20 of them are from the outside, okay. So I don’t get fooled by the shot clock. I’m thrilled the chances are down and the shots on net are down which means you’re spending less time in our zone.”
Two of the best defensive teams in 2026 in the Hurricanes and Blue Jackets will meet. The Blue Jackets are 3-0 against the Hurricanes in their last three meetings in Columbus.
Gaining Respect
Bowness made an interesting comment to reporters in Philadelphia Saturday after the game. At one point in the game against the Flyers, the Blue Jackets controlled the play and the shot clock. But it was the Flyers who held a 4-0 advantage in power plays.
Bowness said in part: “I don’t understand why we’re always the team in the league that has the least amount of power plays. I don’t understand that. There’s a lack of respect for our hockey club, and we’re going to change that.”
The lack of power plays has been a thing with the Blue Jackets going back to when John Tortorella was the head coach. Werenski has been through it all in his tenure. Here’s what he had to say about the perceived “lack of respect.”
“It doesn’t matter. We can’t control it but it’s pretty obvious. I’ve been here for 10 years and I’ve seen it for a long time. The refs have a tough job and the Tkachuk one in overtime, I was pretty pissed at. They don’t have the luxury of replay. It’s just so obvious that it’s a sell job. This is me going going off on him, I love Matthew (Tkachuk). It’s just so frustrating with where we’re at in our season and it’s a big point.”
“But that one’s frustrating. Then you go to Philadelphia and shots were 21-9 and power plays were 4-0. There was a stretch before the break. We played Chicago and got one power play. Then we came out of it and we had one in two games and we were dominating. So we have two power plays in three games. We had one in Philadelphia and two in Florida. It was a low number for how well we’re playing and how much we have the puck.”
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“I’ve noticed it for a long time and in a sense, respect is earned. I feel like you have to have the puck and you have to be a good team in order to get calls. I understand there’s a few years in there where we weren’t a good hockey team and teams had the puck more and we should have less power plays than them. But right now, it’s the opposite. I feel like most games we’re in, we have the puck the majority (of the time.) We’re getting more chances and having it stick in our O-zone and creating stuff. Usually that’s when you get power plays.”
“I’m not singling out any one ref or anything like that. It’s just a theme. It for sure is a theme and it’s unfortunate especially this time of year when you’re fighting for points. Power plays are important. But in saying that, it is what is is and we can’t focus on that. We have to focus on our game. You just got to do the best we can.”
Fantilli Playing Top Competition
Not only has Fantilli started filling the scoresheet again, he’s playing against some of the league’s best competition night in and night out. While he enjoys scoring goals, he enjoys it equally as much playing strong defense.
This part of the game is something Fantilli constantly looks forward to.
“I like playing against those guys,” Fantilli said. “It’s weird. You grow up and you think about all these guys and how good they are. You want to be on the ice playing against those guys. You don’t want to be on the bench watching. I think you can learn a lot from playing against them. It’s been fun. It makes the game so interesting. You can’t stop paying attention for a second or those guys will make you pay. It’s really fun. I enjoy playing against those types of guys as much as possible.”
Fantilli shadowed Nikita Kucherov against the Lightning and did a nice job. He saw time against the Flyers top players including a clutch play to disrupt a breakaway in overtime against Matvei Michkov. Bowness likes the progress he’s seeing here.
“He’s become a really, solid 200-foot player,” Bowness said of Fantilli. He really has. Sticking up for his teammate the other night. He’s the first guy in there. I love that. I tell all the guys they come after one of us, they come after all of us. We’re all out there together and he is 100% bought in. He’s bought in on that side of it. He’s bought in on playing without the puck. He’s very reliable defensively and he’s really bought into the type of 200-foot player you win with.”
Side Dishes
- Werenski admitted the first two games back after the Olympics were low energy for him. But then on the road trip, he felt much better. “I just told myself to keep it simple. I know everyone looks at me for the offense, but I was actually proud of the way I played defensively. I did a lot of good things. I didn’t give up anything. I was minus-4 in the L.A game. I don’t think I played as bad as a minus-4. I just told myself ‘Let’s just reset.’ I obviously don’t have a ton of energy and let’s focus on the defensive side of the puck and the offense, that comes easy for me and that’ll come. I didn’t want to hurt the team defensively. I felt those three games were some of my best defensively. This time of year, that’s what you need. I feel really good about my game. I just wanted to reset and focus on the defensive side of the puck and then I’ll incorporate more offense as we go here.”
- You may have noticed Cole Sillinger get some time up on the top line with Fantilli and Marchenko. He may not have staggering numbers, but there is a reason Sillinger is getting the time on the top line. Here’s Fantilli on what all he brings to the line.
- “He’s my best buddy. We don’t realize how young he is still. He’s played (over) 300 games in the NHL. I think people don’t realize how skilled he is. He’s kind of gotten since I’ve watched put into a little bit of a box of being more defensive, penalty killing and stuff like that. People forget how good he was his rookie year and the scoring touch that he does have. He makes plays. He’s a great skater. He knows how to create space for himself and he’s predictable to play with. I love playing with him. He works hard. He’s responsible as well. I think he’s continuing to get better. He’s 22-years old with that many games under his belt. You’re going to continue to get better, continue to get smarter and the numbers are going to come for him.”
- Bowness said Erik Gudbranson will be a game-time decision on Tuesday. Monday was an optional for the team given the condensed schedule. Bowness left it up to the players what was best for them whether to skate or to stay off the ice. “We’ve had a lot of travel, a lot of late nights so today with the two-day break we had to make sure we used it in the proper way and let their bodies decide what they need.”
