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9 games left

March 21, 2019, 1:10 PM ET [32 Comments]
The Fan Blog
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The Madness of March has already begun in the hockey world. And for the Jackets it has been dicier than expected this March. Columbus has not put themselves in a solid playoff position with some inconsistent play and challenging schedule.

Tonight’s matchup has the Jackets facing two of the best, young and exciting scorers the NHL has to offer in McDavid (105 points) and Draisaitl (43 goals). In the last meeting each had 3 points in a 4-0 shellacking at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets are likely to see the same tendy who shut them out, Mikko Koskinen.

Why has the CBJ been so inconsistent recently? I have watched the games and noticed a few things. While the Jackets giveaway numbers don’t seem to be outrageous on any given night, they are ill timed and placed. The defense’s recovery from them has either been slow or non-existent. The other area of struggle that I would like to get into further is faceoff percentage.

Winning faceoffs leads to puck control, which leads to zone time, which leads to higher scoring chances, which ultimately leads to scoring (if CBJ can find a way to hit the net rather than the pipe).

Over the last 5 games, 2 wins and 3 loses, this statistic has been glaring. Here are the percentages in those games:

L 2-0 to NYI, CBJ FO% 33

W 7-4 over BOS, CBJ FO% 64

W 3-0 over CAR, CBJ FO% 55

L 2-1 (OT) to BOS, CBJ FO% 47

L 4-2 to CGY, CBJ FO% 39

The culprit has been PLD. In the last 5 games, even when the CBJ had a high FO%, he has lost more than he has won. His best night over that time was winning 50%. Against BOS, in a 2-1 OTL, he won 18% of his faceoffs. Eighteen percent! I’m not saying it was the defining factor in losing that game, but it certainly didn’t help.

He is the top line C, meaning that he is out there for many, many faceoffs. Columbus’ two most talented wings are starting off plays without the puck and expending time and energy to gain control rather than creating scoring chances. Many fans and sportswriters have noted that Panarin has disappeared on the ice recently. He has ‘checked out’ or is ‘already moved on to free agency’. Personally, I don’t believe that to be the case. That line is failing to start plays with the puck due to poor puck control in the dot.

While the Duchene – Dzingel – Anderson line has begun to gel and carry play it may be worth putting Duchene on the top line in order to possess the puck from the start of plays.

As a note, PLD’s FO% against EDM in the last meeting was 38. Could be a key to the game tonight, given he is likely to stay on the top line.

Do the Jackets get a badly needed W in EDM tonight?

Would you move PLD off the top line because of his low FO%?
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