4.2 goals per game, that is what the Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging this young hockey season. A marked improvement over the past few seasons to be sure. So what has led to the sudden uptick in goals and shots on goal? For that answer a trip back to head coach Dean Evason's introductory press conference needs to be brought up. Evason said "Do we want to be an offensive team? Sure, 100 percent." He said more on that subject but let's pump the brakes and look at this.
Columbus to this point has been strong on the forecheck which has created some offensive chances. They have also been much better in the neutral zone also creating chances. Evason said they want to pressure teams and therein lies where the Blue Jackets are getting goals from.
It is not the fact the puck is going in the net as much as it has been playing in Evason's structure and trusting it. The team has also been able to corral rebound shots better and have an opportunity to hang around the net. It has been a far cry from past seasons where the team would shoot the puck once or on a rare occasion twice then head back to the defensive end.
Better passing has also helped quite a bit leading to breakaway goals or finding a wide-open player in front of a wide-open net. The Columbus Blue Jackets are finding ways to score and it is not just one player leading the charge. Sean Monahan has five goals, Mathieu Olivier and Kirill Marchenko each have four goals, and a total of 12 players have scored goals nine of which have multiple goals. Columbus ranks fourth in 5v5.
Can the Blue Jackets keep this pace up? Actually, they can, as players are developing nicely and it is clear the entire team has bought into Evason's philosophy which is key. Evason is putting players in a position to have success which he said was his job to do. It is contagious, Columbus scores goals in bunches and the defense has bent but has not broken, well not entirely.
The defense has done a better job of pushing players out of the way and not giving up easy shots or goals. The Blue Jackets are improving with nearly every game played this bodes well for the future. While the team is still roughly a year away from being a serious playoff contender, they are taking steps and they very well could hang around in the playoff race for much of the season.