logo
Blue Jackets bring win streak into matchup with the Islanders

Blue Jackets bring win streak into matchup with the Islanders

Fox Sports16-04-2025

Associated Press
New York Islanders (35-34-12, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (39-33-9, in the Metropolitan Division)
Columbus, Ohio; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to keep a five-game win streak alive when they host the New York Islanders.
Columbus is 39-33-9 overall and 12-10-3 against the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets have gone 18-8-2 in games they score at least one power-play goal.
New York has gone 35-34-12 overall with an 11-10-4 record in Metropolitan Division play. The Islanders have a -30 scoring differential, with 221 total goals scored and 251 conceded.
The teams meet Thursday for the fourth time this season. The Blue Jackets won the previous matchup 4-3 in a shootout.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kent Johnson has scored 23 goals with 33 assists for the Blue Jackets. Adam Fantilli has eight goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Anders Lee has 30 goals and 25 assists for the Islanders. Brock Nelson has five goals and six assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jackets: 6-4-0, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.7 penalties and 10 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Islanders: 3-5-2, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.1 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Blue Jackets: None listed.
Islanders: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
recommended

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Could Blue Jackets pursue Mitch Marner via free agency? They've tried before
Could Blue Jackets pursue Mitch Marner via free agency? They've tried before

New York Times

timea day ago

  • New York Times

Could Blue Jackets pursue Mitch Marner via free agency? They've tried before

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Summer 2019 was a bittersweet time for the Columbus Blue Jackets. They'd just swept the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs — one of the greatest upsets in NHL history — to earn the first series win in franchise history. But the Blue Jackets' two star players, forward Artemi Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, were poised to leave as free agents. Advertisement The Jackets, under then-general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen, were desperate to show the world there could be life after Bread and Bob, but they would need some high-level reinforcements to make that happen. And they did, in fact, go big-game hunting that summer. To this day, it's hard to say how serious the talks were between the Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner, then a 22-year-old restricted free agent. But as The Athletic reported back then, Kekäläinen and Darren Ferris, Marner's agent, at least discussed the possibility of signing Marner to an offer sheet. Marner ultimately stayed with the Maple Leafs, signing a six-year, $65.4 million contract during which he cemented his status as one of the NHL's top talents. That contract expires July 1, and Marner is set to hit the market, this time as an unrestricted free agent. The Blue Jackets, now with Don Waddell in the GM's chair, are expected to pursue Marner again, but they'll have plenty of competition. Several clubs suddenly have money to spend after the NHL's salary cap increased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Waddell has said since he arrived last summer that the Blue Jackets' 'rebuild' is finished and they're now in the business of winning. Though many saw last season as a success — the Jackets were the last club to be eliminated from playoff contention — the club's management, coaches and players were deeply aggravated. And though Waddell's biggest task is cleaning up the club's mix-and-match defensive corps and questionable goaltending, Columbus could use help on its top two scoring lines, too. You make room for a player like Marner, who has three 90-point seasons and a 100-point season in his nine-year career. For context: No Blue Jackets player has ever scored more than 87 points in a season. Let's get the difficult part out of the way first — why would Marner, with half of the league making pitches, choose Columbus? Let us count the ways, in no particular order: For the last nine years, Marner has lived in the fishbowl of Toronto and — fairly or unfairly — he's become the face of the Maple Leafs' playoff woes. The Leafs have won only two playoff series since he's played in Toronto, and they've never made it past the second round. Advertisement The Blue Jackets certainly have playoff aspirations in 2025-26 and beyond. But Marner might benefit from stepping away from the chaos of playing in Toronto to a smaller market where he can live and play without a 24-hour spotlight pointed at him. Marner has been married for two years. He became a father for the first time just last month. Not only has Columbus drawn rave reviews from veteran players as a 'great place to raise a family,' but it's a great spot to live if you want to be close to family in Toronto … but not too close. Johnny Gaudreau chose Columbus for exactly those two reasons. Sean Monahan came here to play with Gaudreau, but he's since fallen in love with the city for its ease of living. These are only recent examples, but it's been the franchise's selling point since the early days. There's a reason so many players have either settled here or are planning to when their careers are finished. There are plenty of question marks on the Blue Jackets roster, and to watch the Stanley Cup Finals is to realize how far away they still might be. But the Jackets will be a trendy pick to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference next season, and their considerable youth suggests they might just be getting started. With centers Monahan and Adam Fantilli in the top six, and Cole Sillinger in the middle of the third line, the Blue Jackets are as strong (and young) down the middle as they've ever been. With Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson, they have budding elite-level wingers. Marner, one of the league's top playmakers, could make them a truly dangerous outfit, and when you add top-level talent to the mix, everybody around them gets better. Picture this: the Blue Jackets with a power play. As noted above, the rising salary cap has given most teams enough leeway to carry out their business this summer. Marner will have no shortage of suitors. Advertisement According to PuckPedia, only the San Jose Sharks ($41.7 million) are projected to have more salary-cap space than the Blue Jackets ($40.4 million). The number will almost certainly shrink before July 1, with defensemen Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro, forward Justin Danforth and possibly others signing contracts before they hit free agency. The Blue Jackets, though, would be able to make Marner the highest-paid player in the league if that's what it took to secure him. Toronto's Auston Matthews is the NHL's highest-paid player at $13.25 million per season, but Leon Draisaitl's eight-year, $14 million AAV extension kicks in July 1. Columbus has the space to match or exceed that. (Photo of Mitch Marner and Dmitri Voronkov: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)

What we learned about the Buffalo Sabres at 2025 NHL Scouting Combine
What we learned about the Buffalo Sabres at 2025 NHL Scouting Combine

New York Times

time2 days ago

  • New York Times

What we learned about the Buffalo Sabres at 2025 NHL Scouting Combine

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jarmo Kekäläinen isn't ready to ease into retirement. The 58-year-old was recently hired as the Buffalo Sabres' senior adviser, and part of what drew him to the team was the idea of taking an active role in assisting general manager Kevyn Adams. After more than a decade as the Blue Jackets' general manager, Kekäläinen spent the last year and a half waiting for his next job. Advertisement 'The role is important for me, because I didn't want to be looked at as somebody who's retiring or doesn't want to do work,' Kekäläinen said on the Sabres' official radio station Friday. 'I want to be 100 percent in, 24/7, doing everything I can to help Kevyn and the Buffalo Sabres.' Kekäläinen found the right job if he's looking to roll up his sleeves and work. He's now the most experienced voice in Buffalo's front office. And with Adams entering his sixth season on the job, he has some pivotal decisions to make about key pieces on the Sabres' roster. That's why Buffalo has become a team to watch this offseason. JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod and Jack Quinn are among the notable restricted free agents. Alex Tuch is eligible for a contract extension. Adding to the intrigue is Kekäläinen, who developed a reputation for making bold trades and signings during his time as the Blue Jackets' general manager. Maybe that aggressive nature will influence the Sabres' front office this summer. 'It all depends on where the team's at in its development and growth, and then when the window opens, I think you need to be aggressive because the window to win with a team is never open forever,' Kekäläinen said of his aggressive nature. 'It's that certain period of time, your core players' prime, and that's when you need to be aggressive to make sure you surround them with the right mix to win.' Here are some other odds and ends from the NHL Scouting Combine. 1. For the second straight year, the idea of the Sabres trading their first-round pick should be on the table. With pressure to win now in Buffalo, a ready-made player is more valuable than making another draft pick. The tricky part is that the Sabres aren't the only team thinking that way. The Blue Jackets, Canadiens and Canucks, who all have picks in the middle part of the first round, are in the same situation. Of course, the Sabres are picking higher, so their pick might hold more value. But the availability of so many first-round picks changes the supply and demand dynamic. Even Utah seems open to moving the No. 4 pick. There also aren't a ton of teams that are truly committed to collecting draft picks and rebuilding. The one team that stands out is the Penguins, who already have the No. 11 pick in the draft. They would make sense as a trade partner for the Sabres. A veteran like Bryan Rust would be a perfect addition for Buffalo, and the Sabres have the picks and prospects that could interest the Penguins. Advertisement But without many suitors willing to part with a good enough player to warrant moving the pick, the Sabres may end up in a similar spot they were in last summer. The supply and demand equation doesn't seem to be in their favor at the moment. 2. The Sabres were among the teams that met with Czech defenseman Radim Mrtka at the combine. A 6-foot-6 right-handed defenseman like Mrtka is always going to be in high demand in the NHL Draft. Mrtka, who played in the WHL this season, is not known as an overly physical or nasty defenseman, but he had an interesting explanation for that. He said that as one of the bigger players growing up, he took a lot of penalties for his rough style of play, so he tried to tone it down a bit. Now it's an aspect of his game he's trying to build up more as he moves up to higher levels. Given his size and playing strength, it's reasonable to expect that Mrtka can develop into a physical, shutdown defenseman. He's on Buffalo's radar with the No. 9 pick, but there's a chance he goes earlier than that. 3. Brady Martin feels like he might not last until the Sabres' pick at No. 9. He had four different teams take him out to dinner this week: the Bruins, Flyers, Mammoth and Predators. Those teams are all picking from four to seven in the first round, so it's becoming more difficult to imagine him being on the board when the Sabres are on the clock. Martin's combination of physicality and goal-scoring touch makes him an attractive option for those teams picking high in the draft. He also showed off his big personality during interviews this week. 4. Roger McQueen, a 6-foot-5 center for the Brandon Wheat Kings, said the back injury that limited him to 17 games this season is behind him. McQueen said he was dealing with a fracture and then a muscle strain that developed as a result of that fracture. That shouldn't carry the same long-term concerns that other back injuries might. If McQueen is on the board at 9, the Sabres might be in the position to take the risk on a top-10 talent in the draft. 5. The Sabres did meet with Alex Tuch's reps at the combine this week. It's still too early to say what will come of that, but that Tuch is open to negotiating is a start. He's eligible to sign an extension on July 1 and has a ton of leverage coming off one of the best seasons of his career. We outlined his contract situation earlier this offseason. 6. We detailed the JJ Peterka situation over the weekend. He's not someone the Sabres are eager to trade, but teams around the league keep calling. Bowen Byram is the other name to watch this summer. Also a restricted free agent, Byram is another player teams are asking about. The Sabres are still high on him, though. The difference between Byram and Peterka is that Byram is only two years away from unrestricted free agency. He might be reluctant to sign away some of his UFA years without a clear path to a bigger role in Buffalo. Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power eat up most of the top power-play minutes. The one path I see to a long-term solution is Byram playing alongside Dahlin. At times, that has been a dominant pair for the Sabres. But if Adams is looking to make a significant move to shake up this roster, moving Byram is one way to do that. 7. Last year, the Sabres managed to trade down in the first round. That helped them land an extra second-round pick that they flipped for Beck Malenstyn. If the Sabres move back from the No. 9 pick, there are a few names I'll be watching. One is Barrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who met with the Sabres and has the mean streak they could use in their pipeline. He's left-handed, but that shouldn't hold the Sabres back. Among the forwards, Everett's Carter Bear stands out due to his competitive and physical style of play. The Achilles laceration he dealt with this year is the only concern, but that risk wouldn't be as significant in the middle of the first round. Later in the first round, Jack Nesbitt, who met with the Sabres, is another forward willing to play a hard-nosed game and make plays around the net. His blend of skill and physicality could make him a top-25 pick.

The NHL's Sharks, Ducks And Blue Jackets Could Prove Disruptive In 2025 Free Agency
The NHL's Sharks, Ducks And Blue Jackets Could Prove Disruptive In 2025 Free Agency

Miami Herald

time3 days ago

  • Miami Herald

The NHL's Sharks, Ducks And Blue Jackets Could Prove Disruptive In 2025 Free Agency

On July 1, the NHL will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the salary cap with the largest single-year jump in the cap's history. But for players, free agency isn't just about money: it's also about opportunity. And while the three teams that are currently hoarding the most available cap space heading into July 1 haven't been big players in recent years, that could change in 2025 - even in the face of stiff competition. According to PuckPedia, the San Jose Sharks are headed into free agency with the most projected cap space: $41.76 million. The Columbus Blue Jackets are second at $40.4 million, and the Anaheim Ducks are third at $38.69 million. All three are ready to take the next step, so don't be surprised if they take some big swings on July 1 - whether that's in free agency or through blockbuster trades. In San Jose, the Sharks are heading into Year 4 of the Mike Grier regime. After bottoming out and successfully snagging Macklin Celebrini in 2024, San Jose still finished 32nd overall last season. But Celebrini and Will Smith showed strong signs that they'll be foundational players, as did goalie-of-the-future Yaroslav Askarov. There's also more promising young talent in the pipeline. In his rookie year as an NHL head coach, Ryan Warsofsky also showed a deft hand in managing his players. He added a feather to his cap by guiding Team USA to its first gold medal since 1933 at the world championship. And while Warsofsky may be new on the scene, he has the qualities of a coach who inspires player loyalty. At the 2025 trade deadline, Grier performed major surgery again. That leaves plenty of roster spots open for players who are looking to make a difference with an emerging squad. Compared to the last few years, San Jose is on the rise as a signing destination. In Anaheim, the Ducks became a more desirable destination by replacing taskmaster Greg Cronin with Joel Quenneville behind the bench. Though he has been out of the game since 2021, Quenneville's record speaks for itself: on top of his four Stanley Cups, he has more wins on his resume than any NHL coach not named Scotty Bowman. Quenneville also has a reputation as the kind of coach that players love to play for. While that should be attractive to free agents in general, could it also be a carrot for a couple of future Hall of Famers who played their best hockey under Quenneville with the Chicago Blackhawks? After two years out of the game himself, Jonathan Toews has made it clear that he's ready to attempt a comeback this fall. It will be odd to see him wearing anything other than Chicago colors, but a reunion with his old bench boss could make sense. And while it's tempting to presume that Toews won't be a high-impact player at age 37, the current playoff exploits of similarly aged Brad Marchand and Corey Perry would suggest otherwise. Gabriel Landeskog and Evander Kane have also recently demonstrated that it's possible to return at a high level after long absences from top-level competition. If Toews chose to reunite with Quenneville, could Patrick Kane also head west? After going through health issues of his own, Kane is a pending free agent coming off back-to-back 20-goal seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, who haven't quite found a way to get back into the playoff mix. Toews and Kane won three Stanley Cups together in Chicago, were represented by the same agent, and played under matching contracts as the Blackhawks' top stars. If the pair reunited in Orange County, would other free agents be tempted to come along for the ride? In Columbus, the Blue Jackets knocked at the door of a playoff spot this spring, finishing two points behind the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference standings. It was an impressive achievement for a new regime led by GM Don Waddell and coach Dean Evason, especially in the wake of the unexpected tragedy of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's deaths. Gaudreau, of course, defied expectations in 2022, when he chose Columbus as one of that summer's top free agents. His longtime buddy Sean Monahan joined him last year and became such a pillar of strength in supporting his team and honoring his friend's legacy that he was voted the 2025 winner of the Masterton Trophy. Any player who signs with Columbus will know that they're walking into a dressing room where players truly have each other's backs. They'll also be walking onto a roster that features 2025 Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski and a strong group of emerging talents, many of whom had career years in 2024-25. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store