Bjorkstrand starting out alright
Oliver Bjorkstrand, right wing, leads the team in points with eight, having scored three goals and five assists. He is also leading the team in penalty minutes with 23. Currently, he has more penalty minutes in the start of this season than in the past two full seasons combined. Zach Werenski and Nick Foligno are tied for second most penalty minutes with nine each. Bjorkstrand, along with Cam Atkinson, also leads the team in shots on goal with 25.
While Bjorkstrand has been a dependable player for the Blue Jackets, historically, it remains to be seen whether he will have a remarkably great season, or if the Blue Jackets’ main scorers are having a rough start to the season.
Alexandre Texier is currently leading Columbus in goals with four. This is the 21-year-old’s third season in the NHL. He only has to score three more goals this season to beat his total goals last season. Today will be his 50th career NHL game.
Boone Jenner has six points this season with three goals and three assists. He is tied with Texier for second most points on the team. Jenner played his 500th career NHL game Tuesday.
Jones and Werenski struggling
Seth Jones and Zach Werenski may, in fact, be having a rough start to the season. In an interview posted to the Blue Jackets’ Youtube Wednesday, reporter Aaron Portzline called Jones and Werenski, “one of the best pairs in the league.” Despite struggling to begin the season as major points contributors, fans can expect to see the pair in future games. The pair was together again in practice Wednesday after not playing together in Tuesday’s game. “They’re a huge part of our club,” said head coach John Tortorella in the same interview. “It’s just been a struggle, and players have gone through it before. But I’m not going to stray too far away from those two because I trust them.”
Tuesday’s loss
The Blue Jackets suffered a 6-3 loss Tuesday against the Dallas Stars.
“We weren’t very crisp,” said Seth Jones in a postgame interview Tuesday.
“People forget that that team went to the Stanley Cup Final last year, and they’re a pretty good hockey club,” Tortorella said. “They’re a very good team. I think it’s a good challenge for us. I think it’s just a team outlook that we need to be a harder team to play against.”
Tortorella said recent additions to the team Max Domi and Jack Roslovic made some good plays in Tuesday’s game. Domi has one goal and two assists as of now, during his first season with the Blue Jackets. This was Roslovic’s fourth game with Columbus. He currently has two assists.
“We just have to be better on Thursday. It starts with me, I have to be way better if we want to win,” said Patrik Laine also in a postgame interview Tuesday. This was his debut game with the Blue Jackets. “I think we were just passing it around outside too much. I mean, it looks pretty but we’re not going to create any scoring chances doing that.”
Hockey fans will be anticipating Laine’s second game with his new franchise to see if he is able to perform closer to his previous level.
Foudy to the taxi squad
Tortorella also said that Liam Foudy, who was recently assigned to the taxi squad, is still practicing with the team and may be back in the lineup later on. Foudy was brought up from the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate the Cleveland Monsters last year and played only two regular season games before the playoffs. He scored one playoff goal, and brought a lot of energy to the team. “I’m not crazy about taking him out of the line-up, because I hate taking out that type of speed,” said Tortorella.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have played 11 games of their 2020-21 season so far. All the team’s skaters have played all 11 games except Mikko Koivu, Kevin Stenlund, Riley Nash and recent additions Jack Roslovic and Patrik Laine.
The Blue Jackets next game will be today at home against the Dallas Stars at 7 p.m. EST.
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