COLUMBUS, Ohio — After suffering a 7-2 defeat to the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets will take a day off on Sunday to rest and regroup. The loss marked their first of 12 back-to-back game sets this season.
The blowout in Washington followed a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on Friday at Nationwide Arena, resulting in consecutive losses for the Blue Jackets (5-5-1) by a combined score of 13-4. This setback dropped their overall goal differential from +10 after the first nine games to just +1 after 11.
In an unusual scheduling twist, six of the Jackets’ first nine opponents faced them in the second game of back-to-backs, including five teams that traveled to Columbus. This rare occurrence hasn’t happened in the NHL since the 1950s and may have influenced the Blue Jackets’ 5-3-1 start.
Head coach Dean Evason disagreed with the notion that fatigue played a role in the team’s performance, stating that players are in better shape than ever and that it’s too early in the season for tired legs to be a factor. However, the team’s lackluster performance against the Capitals seemed to contradict that perspective.
The Jackets were outskated and outworked, allowing Washington to cruise through the final two periods. While scheduling may not be the sole reason for the team’s struggles, it likely contributed to the rapid unraveling of their game.
The good news for the Blue Jackets is that the weekend is over. They will have an off day on Sunday, practice on Monday, and then fly to San Jose, California, to begin a four-game road trip starting Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. It’s a crucial time for the Blue Jackets to regroup and avoid letting a tough weekend derail their season.