Gameday #20: ‘Peg, it will come back to you

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 8:00 PM ET
Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, Manitoba
TV: FDSNOH; Radio 97.1 FM

Columbus Blue Jackets (10-7-2, 22 points, 5th Metro, 8th East)

at

Winnipeg Jets (11-7-0, 22 points, 3rd Central, 6th West)

Previously

For the fourth time in the last five games, the Blue Jackets played extra hockey last night. And, in what has become a disturbing pattern, they got there despite entering the third period with a two-goal lead. Lane Hutson tied the game with 1:19 left in regulation, with Jakub Dobes pulled, and taking advantage of Mathieu Olivier playing without a stick (he loaned his to Charlie Coyle after Coyle’s broke on the faceoff).

This team seems content to let the other team dictate play. They aren’t taking control of games. I thought these forward lines looked OK, and the team played pretty well in the defensive zone, but there was so little offensive push at 5v5.

With 20 seconds left and an offensive zone faceoff, Martin St. Louis called a timeout and walked his players through the strategy to try to get the winning goal. The Columbus players talked to themselves on the bench while the coaches stood back with their hands in their pockets. What are we even doing here, guys? Is there any plan? Any urgency?

Fortunately, Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko came through with goals in the shootout, and Jet Greaves made key saves in OT and the shootout to seal the victory. But, that’s a free point given to Montreal, a team the Jackets are directly fighting for a playoff spot. These things catch up to you in April.

Player to Watch

Connor Hellebuyck

Well at least the solution to the offensive problems will be… (checks notes) … Oh. Flying to the middle of nowhere in Canada to face a rested Jets team that also has the best goaltender in the world. Cool!

Stats

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Winnipeg Jets