Fifteen: Columbus (8th Metropolitan)

The Blue Jackets haven't built on the promise of their last two seasons successes and really aren't building anything on small successes this season, too. The stars of this team should be Ryan Johansen C, Nick Foligno LW, Brandon Saad LW, and Sergei Bobrovsky G. But really none are elevating their games for wins. If things don't turn, Scott Hartnell  LW could bring something at the trade deadline - he continues to show himself to be a really solid agitating, gritty forward that can deposit the puck in the net.

Record: 11 - 17 - 2 24pts ( projected: 14 - 20 - 3 31pts)

Significant Injuries:
Sergei Bobrovsky G

Bobrovsky is certainly a starter - but this team has a lot of holes defensively, so the goalie isn't going to change much.

Next Fifteen Days 12/12/2015 - 12/26/2015:
Saturday New York Islanders visit
Monday Tampa Bay visits
Tuesday at Dallas
Thursday at Arizona
Saturday Philadelphia visits
Monday at Pittsburgh
Saturday at Tampa Bay


This fifteen days should give Columbus a chance to turn their season around. If they come away with fewer than 5 wins - I don't think this team has any chance at the playoffs.

7 out of 14pts

3 - 3 - 1

Last Fifteen Days 11/27/2015 - 12/11/2015:
WIN 2 - 1 (OT) Pittsburgh
LOSS 1 - 3 at St Louis
LOSS 1 - 2 at Montreal
LOSS 1 - 2 (SO) Florida
WIN 4 - 1 at Philadelphia
LOSS 2 - 3 (OT) Los Angeles
LOSS 4 - 6 at Winnipeg

2 - 3 - 2

6 out of 14pts

Despite some improvement under coach John Tortorella (maybe - what team would lose ALL their games anyway, as Columbus started the season - in other words, any coach would have seen improvement), the Blue Jackets are performing FAR below what many experts thought. Defense is key in this league and this mix of forwards and defensemen don't seem to play it well.