Oct 15, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Spencer Knight (30) makes a save on the shot from Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mikael Pyyhtia (82) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been one of the most surprising teams in the NHL this season, particularly on offense, and they will try to continue that when they host the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.
Columbus is coming off a 6-1 win against the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Monday, a game that drew more attention for the lower-body injury suffered by Edmonton star Connor McDavid less than a minute into the game. but there were plenty of highlights for the Blue Jackets.
Columbus scored at least six goals for the fourth time this season, putting it level with the Vegas Golden Knights for the most six-goal games in the NHL. The Blue Jackets also scored a franchise-best 33 goals in the first eight games, averaging 4.13 goals per game, fourth-highest in the NHL.
“We’re going to work every night and we have done that so far,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “We have to keep doing it.”
On Monday, Mikael Pyyhtia scored his first NHL goal in his 27th NHL game; Mathieu Olivier scored his fourth goal of the season, one less than he scored in 54 games last season; and Kirill Marchenko had two assists, extending his point streak to three games (two goals, three assists).
“I hope we’re playing the way we do, at the level we set for ourselves,” Evason said. “We try to catch up every night, no matter who we play and what their mentality is. We’re going to play hard every night and we’ll see where we are.”
Evason returned Yegor Chinakhov to the first line with Sean Monahan and Marchenko against Edmonton, and the trio scored two goals and three assists.
Cole Sillinger moved to the second line with Adam Fantilli and Pyyhtia, and together they scored three goals and three assists.
“That (top) line has been really good with Chinny, Monny and Marchy, so it’s nice to get them back together and honestly, if you put Cole Sillinger with anyone, it’s a pretty good line,” Evason said. “We felt very comfortable that that would work.”
The Islanders lost to the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night and lost 3-1, despite having a 41-22 advantage in shots on goal.
New York forward Mathew Barzal, who scored the only goal against the Ducks, said the Islanders had plenty of good scoring opportunities, just as they did when they outscored the Detroit Red Wings 30-11 on Oct. 22, but lost 1 -0.
New York also recorded more shots on goal than its opponent in its other two shutout losses this season.
“It’s been kind of the same script a lot of games this year,” Barzal said. “There were just a lot of opportunities, we outshot a team. I feel like we were the better team (against Anaheim) and we came out on the losing end, but it’s a long season and we think everything will even out going forward.”
The Islanders have just one win in regulation in their first nine games and none in five home games.
Semyon Varlamov is expected to start in goal after Ilya Sorokin made 19 saves against the Ducks.
Varlamov has started four games this season and is 1-2-1 with a .854 save percentage and a 3.72 goals-against average.
In his career against the Blue Jackets, he has an 11-5-2 record, a .937 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average. He has also recorded four of his 41 NHL shutouts against Columbus.
–Field level media
