Special teams, Sergei spurring success for Jackets
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets (4-3-1) host the Montreal Canadiens (9-0-1) at Nationwide Arena on Friday.
Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Ohio
The Canadiens, arguably the hottest team in the NHL, have yet to lose a game in regulation this season. They are riding an eight-game winning streak coming into Columbus.
"It's nice to arrive in the morning and have the two points there, but we know it's time to get back to work at practice. We have to make sure that when the play is there we make it, and we have to start playing that way against Columbus [on Friday]," Habs captain Max Pacioretty told the team's website.
Although goaltender Carey Price (6-0-0) stopped 42 shots in their 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, the team's sluggish start to the game served as a wake-up call. At one point, they were outshot 24-3 in Wednesday's win.
"We worked on our execution this morning to make sure we're ready to work right from the start of the game tomorrow in Columbus," continued head coach Michel Therrien. "We know the Blue Jackets are a hardworking team, and they have a tough building to win in."
On the blue line, Shea Weber helps make the Canadiens' back end more stable. Since being traded to Montreal from the Nashville Predators straight-up for P.K. Subban, he's tallied four goals and six assists for 10 points in 10 games. He has a plus-minus of plus-14 and is averaging more than 25 minutes per game.
The Blue Jackets are above .500 for the first time this season after an overtime win Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. Two factors that factor into Columbus' success are their special teams and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
They have the best power play in the NHL, converting at 35.0 percent. Add to that their penalty killing unit ranking fifth at 88.9 percent, allowing three goals on 27 chances, and their special teams' play is helping them when called upon. Cutting down on the number of penalties they take will help ease the burden on their special teams.
Conversely, Montreal is 15th on the power play (20.0 percent), but is second in the NHL when they are a man-down (90.0 percent).
Between the pipes, Bobrovsky has started all eight games for the Blue Jackets, recording 4-3-1. Although he gave up five goals in the team's season opener, he has a 2.02 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.
Defensively, Seth Jones (2-4-6) has been a workhorse for the Blue Jackets. The 22-year old leads the team in time on the ice (149:57), and has shined as part of the top-defensive pairing with 19-year-old Zach Werenski.
"I think I've been playing pretty consistent," Jones told the team's website. "The main thing for me is to be solid defensively first and I think I've done a pretty good job with that, with Zach, so I think we're playing very well together and having a lot of success right now."
Jones has been used in all situations, having the ability to skate the puck out of danger, while jumping into the play offensively when warranted.
"He's been good all year long," head coach John Tortorella said. "He has been ready and he's brought people along with him. As we've talked about: our back end is going to be our engine as we move forward here, and he's a big part of it."
