The Columbus Blue Jackets have been one of the more surprising NHL teams this season, particularly on the offensive end, and they will attempt to keep rolling when they host the New York Islanders on Wednesday evening.
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, which ties the Vegas Golden Knights for the most six-goal games in the NHL. The Blue Jackets also have scored a franchise-best 33 goals through the first eight games while averaging 4.13 goals a game, fourth-highest in the NHL.
“We’re going to work every night, and we’ve done that up to this point,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “We’ve got to continue to do 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 totaled in 54 games last season; and Kirill Marchenko had two assists, extending his point streak to three games (two goals, three assists).
“I hope that we’re playing the way that we play, the standard that we set,” Evason said. “We’re trying to meet that every night, regardless of who we play and what their mentality is. We’re going to play hard every night, and we’ll see where we sit.”
Evason moved Yegor Chinakhov back up to the top line with Sean Monahan and Marchenko against Edmonton, and the trio accounted for two goals and three assists.
Cole Sillinger was moved down to the second line with Adam Fantilli and Pyyhtia, and they combined for three goals and three assists.
“That (top) line’s been so good with Chinny, Monny and Marchy, so it’s nice to put them back together, and honestly, if you put Cole Sillinger with anybody, it’s a pretty good line,” Evason said. “We felt very comfortable that would work.”
The Islanders lost to the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night and lost 3-1, despite owning a 41-22 edge in shots on goal.
New York forward Mathew Barzal, who scored the lone goal against the Ducks, said the Islanders had plenty of good looks at the net, just as they did when they outshot the Detroit Red Wings 30-11 on Oct. 22, but lost 1-0.
New York also recorded more shots on goal than their opponent in its other two shutout losses this season.
“It’s just been kind of the same script for a lot of games this year,” Barzal said. “Just a lot of chances, outshooting a team. I feel like we were the better team (against Anaheim) and we come out the losing end, but it’s a long season, and we have belief that it’ll all even out down the road.”
The Islanders have just one regulation victory 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 made four starts this season and is 1-2-1 with an .854 save percentage and 3.72 goals-against average.
He is 11-5-2 in his career against the Blue Jackets with a .937 save percentage and 2.18 GAA. He has also posted four of his 41 NHL shutouts against Columbus.
