Being a blog about the Columbus Blue Jackets and being read primarily by Blue Jackets fans, it’s perfectly natural that our focus remains inside our own lines. However, this season, we’ll take a peek over the breastworks to see just what the opposition is doing. This bi-weekly series will give a our fellow Cannonites a little intelligence on the rest of the Metropolitan Division
*Game results listed from 12/12 through 12/31
Carolina Hurricanes
12/12 – OT Loss to Vancouver
12/14 – Beat Calgary
12/17 – Beat Winnipeg
12/19 – Beat Colorado
12/21 – Loss to Florida
12/23 – Loss to Toronto
12/27 – Loss to NYR
12/28 – Beat Washington
12/31 – Beat Montreal
Last time around, Carolina had a decent cushion in the WC race. That cushion is now just 1 pt over Philadelphia. Ok, right…Philly is also a WC team. Still, it has shrunk some! The Hurricanes had a good stretch of results out west before returning east and getting shellacked. However, they ended the year on positive notes. We do think the Wild Card race will come down to Carolina and Philadelphia holding off Florida, but injuries in the Metro might shake that up a bit.
Where they rank in the Metro: Mid-World (Wild Card)
Trending: Even
Canes Country General Mood: “Dougie will represent the Canes well.” Considering his strong reputation, I am surprised this is Dougie Hamilton’s first ASG nod.
New Jersey Devils
12/13 – Loss to Colorado
12/14 – Beat Arizona
12/18 – Beat Anaheim
12/20 – Loss to Washington
12/21 – Loss to Columbus
12/23 – Beat Chicago
12/27 – OT Loss to Toronto
12/29 – Beat Ottawa
12/31 – Beat Boston
Taylor Hall is gone. They did beat Arizona in this segment, but we didn’t bother matching up the trade date with the game date. We will just assume NJD got the last laugh. Other than that, not much is going right for the team. That Boston win is a nice way to end the year, though.
Where they rank in the Metro: At the bottom
Trending: Even
All About the Jersey General Mood: “A lot of dumb rules can be fixed but the league and GMs refuse to for some odd reason.” The problem is that I don’t think the league and GMs think some of those dumb rules are dumb.
New York Islanders
12/12 – Beat Florida
12/14 – Beat Buffalo
12/17 – Loss to Nashville
12/19 – Beat Boston
12/21 – SO Loss to Anaheim
12/23 – Loss to Columbus
12/27 – Loss to Chicago
12/29 – Beat Minnesota
12/31 – Beat Washington
The Islanders are faltering. They’ve won enough, combined with Washington’s losses, to not fall further behind the Caps. However, they have allowed other teams in the Metro to catch up. Pittsburgh is only 1 point back, Carolina is 3 back. The Isles have a games-in-hand advantage, but it doesn’t seem like a sure thing that they’ll make good use of that. They still lead the league in goals allowed, but they’ve allowed 8,5,3,and 5 in their last 4 losses.
Where they rank in the Metro: Top three
Trending: Even
Lighthouse Hockey General Mood: “Starting tonight is the stretch that will define the season. The next 13 are Minn, Wash, NJ, Tor, Col, NJ, Bos, NYR, Det, NYR, WSH, CAR, NYR. At minimum they need 16 points out of that stretch.” Don’t usually see a fan projecting THIS far out as an important stretch. 13 games?! Though…lots of Metro games, so I guess he’s right.
New York Rangers
12/12 – Beat San Jose
12/14 – SO Loss to Anaheim
12/16 – Loss to Nashville
12/20 – Loss to Toronto
12/22 – Beat Anaheim
12/23 – Loss to Philadephia
12/27 – Beat Carolina
12/28 – Beat Toronto
12/31 – Loss to Edmonton
The Rangers and Blue Jackets have been swapping places at the bottom of the Metro for most of this stretch. It was a pretty tough slate of games – lots of playoff contenders and only one loss to a Metro team. Artemi Panarin continues to be the offensive driver – 22-33-55 – and the primary reason to watch this team. Still, they are still within striking distance of that last WC. We still think someone in the Metro is going to fade and that might allow the Rangers to sneak in. They’d have to fix that PK though.
Where they rank in the Metro: Bottom three
Trending: Even
Blueshirt Banter General Mood: “I cannot believe a coach could get to this level thinking that defense is based on effort and that offense is based on skill.” Probably more common than you think – Torts had similar lines in recent years. But isn’t Dave Quinn supposed to be part of the younger group of coaches?
Philadelphia Flyers
12/14 – Loss to Minnesota
12/15 – Loss to Winnipeg
12/17 – Beat Anaheim
12/19 – Beat Buffalo
12/21 – Beat Ottawa
12/23 – Beat NYR
12/28 – Loss to San Jose
12/29 – Beat Anaheim
12/31 – Loss to Los Angeles
We can safely state that the Flyers are legitimate after all. This last stretch of games wasn’t their most impressive, but they are demonstrating staying power. When they lost, they really lost – by 2+ goals every time. When they won, they really won – by 3+ goals 3 times. Carter Hart has been solid in net after a slow start this season and team got through a brief spell without Travis Konecny.
Where they rank in the Metro: Mid-World (Wild Card)
Trending: Even
Broad Street Hockey General Mood: “Not sure if I missed this conversation at some point, but I just wanted to say the Stars Winter Classic jerseys are appalling.” This is a conversation starter! What do you think, Burkus?
Pittsburgh Penguins
12/12 – Beat Columbus
12/14 – Beat Los Angeles
12/17 – Beat Calgary
12/20 – Beat Edmonton
12/21 – Loss to Vancouver
12/27 – Beat Nashville
12/28 – Beat Nashville
12/30 – Beat Ottawa
The last half of December was particularly impressive for Pittsburgh. The Pens just went around beating almost all of their opponents. The big news, of course, is that this team has lost another key contributor. Jake Guentzel is out for 4-6 months after undergoing surgery. The hockey gods seem to keep upping the difficulty level for the Penguins. Right now, they are top 7 in goals for and goals against with mid-pack special teams. We’ll see if they keep answering the call.
Where they rank in the Metro: Top three
Trending: Up
Pensburgh General Mood: “Bottom pair defender is not a priority. Getting a top 6 winger is.” You sure? CBJ have a lightly used Harrington that could really help you.
Washington Capitals
12/14 – Beat Tampa Bay
12/16 – Loss to Columbus
12/20 – Beat New Jersey
12/21 – Beat Tampa Bay
12/23 – Loss to Boston
12/27 – Beat Columbus
12/28 – Loss to Carolina
12/31 – Loss to NYI
The Capitals continue to be the class of the Metro, but they showed a knack for losing to Metro teams this last go around. That’s a good way to gack up a big points lead! Washington finally slayed their Columbus beast last week, but they lost to NYI and Carolina who are larger threats to their stature. It probably won’t matter in the end since the Islanders are not impregnable and Carolina might be too far back – but this team isn’t the juggernaut of October and November.
Where they rank in the Metro: Top of the Metro
Trending: Even
Japer’s Rink General Mood: “And Alexis DeFreniere can thank the Caps for not getting stuck in Columbus next season. And instead be with Detroit. New Jersey, Chicago, or LA.” Hahaha! Funny perspective on the Caps struggles vs Columbus.
Thanks for reading. Here’s your palate cleanser.