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Oilers looking to avoid landmine in Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus and Chicago are both in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, currently sitting near the basement of the NHL standings, but should not be underestimated heading into a bye week.

Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau (13) controls the puck during the third period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Jan 23, 2023.
Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau (13) controls the puck during the third period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Jan 23, 2023. Photo by Sergei Belski /USA TODAY Sports

Having put together an impressive winning streak to get back in the thick of the NHL playoff race, the Edmonton Oilers are not interested in tripping over the last two hurdles before an extended break.

Games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks might be considered low-hanging fruit after impressive wins against the Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken and Tampa Bay Lightning on the six-game streak, but having been in a spoiler role themselves for so many years. , the Oilers are not about to take their next two opponents lightly.

Columbus and Chicago are both in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, currently sitting at the basement of the NHL standings, but should not be underestimated with the Oilers heading into a bye week and then the NHL All-Star break.

The Oilers host the Blue Jackets (7:30 pm) at Rogers Place on Wednesday and the Blackhawks on Saturday night.

“I think they (Blue Jackets) are a dangerous team and they have dangerous players,” said Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft on Tuesday. “They have players playing for something more than just location in the team standings; they’re playing for jobs.

“So, they’re playing with a level of passion and enthusiasm that you see in younger players that are trying to establish themselves at the National Hockey League level.”

The Blue Jackets are back in a familiar position, at the bottom of the standings after modest success the previous few seasons.

In its 23 years of existence, the Blue Jackets have made it to the playoffs six times and only once won a first-round playoff series, not including a qualifying round win during the COVID-19 playoff tournament.

The latest rebuild is being led by former Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau, 29, who surprisingly selected Columbus as an unrestricted free agent, signing a seven-year, $68.25-million contract.

Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 13 goals and 46 points and made his first trip back to Calgary on Monday, picking up a pair of assists in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flames. Gaudreau was also awarded a penalty shot in the first period, which he failed to convert.

“He’s so dynamic,” said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “He’s explosive with the puck and is able to make good plays; those little plays he makes all over the ice and then he can take off past you. Obviously, we have to be ready for him. That’s a good young team over there that we have to prepare for.”

A product of Salem, NJ, Gaudreau cited the desire to be closer to home as the reason for signing with Columbus and not returning to Calgary. He is on pace for an 80-point season, which would be well below the 40 goals and 115 points posted in his final year with the Flames.

“For Johnny Hockey in particular, we saw enough of him over the years with Calgary, I’m sure it was an emotional night for him personally (Monday) night,” Woodcroft said. “He’s somebody that can hurt you off the rush, he can hurt you if you make a mistake while you’re in the offensive zone, he can transition from defense to offense that quickly. Last night, he drew a penalty shot because of it.

“He’s someone that despite his diminutive size, is very hard to finish on. He’s very elusive, and you couple that with some of those characters in Boone Jenner and those type of guys, and then you add a sniper like (Patrik) Laine into the mix, and they can hurt you.”

Gaudreau, Laine, Jenner and Jack Roslovic are driving the bus in Columbus, which has sputtered the past three seasons after four consecutive trips to the playoffs.

Getting Bedard — a generational talent — could change the fortunes of the franchise the way selecting Connor McDavid did for the Oilers.

Yet, the current roster, despite its struggles, is playing for the next game without anything to lose, which makes them dangerous for the Oilers, particularly with a nine-day layoff on the horizon.

“For us, it’s the same attitude we took into Vancouver, which is the focus for us, growing our game — taking a step in our team game,” Woodcroft said. “We’ve done a good job of that post-Christmas and we’re looking at doing a good job of that again (Wednesday) against a team that if you’re not prepared, they can hurt you.”

KANE STILL AWAY

Evander Kane did not practice for the second consecutive day, away from the team dealing with a ‘personal’ matter and may not be back for the game against the Blue Jackets.

Kane is in San Jose, Calif., dealing with his bankruptcy case.

“We’ll see about (Wednesday), but he’s gone for the same reason as he was (Monday),” said Woodcroft, who added Kane could ‘potentially’ miss the game against the Blue Jackets.

Kane has yet to collect a point in the three games since his return from a wrist laceration sustained in a game at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 8.

Email: [email protected]

On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest

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