Blue Jackets Face Back-to-Back Test Against Blues After Shootout Win

The Blue Jackets have a chance to carry a strong performance straight into their first road test of the season, but the schedule gives them little time to enjoy it. Columbus visits St. Louis tonight, less than a day after beating Pittsburgh in a shootout and producing 47 shots on goal. The challenge now is to bring that pressure on the road while finding more ways to turn possession into goals.

Columbus had five days between games before facing the Penguins, and the break appeared to help. The Jackets outshot Pittsburgh 47-22, a wide gap that reflected how often they drove play into the offensive zone. The score, though, didn’t tell the whole story of the chances Columbus created. The shootout win came after a performance that put the Penguins under sustained pressure, but a high shot count alone doesn’t guarantee that pressure will translate into goals.

That distinction matters against St. Louis. Columbus will need traffic in front, better access to rebounds and more willingness to battle for position near the crease. Clean looks from the perimeter can keep a goalie busy without forcing difficult decisions. The Jackets generated enough volume against Pittsburgh; the next step is making more of those attempts uncomfortable to handle, particularly on the power play.

Turn possession into tougher saves

The previous game offered reasons for optimism and a clear area to sharpen. The Penguins’ goaltender played well, but Columbus also had chances to make his job harder. Without bodies screening the view or teammates ready for rebounds, even a busy night for the opposing goalie can produce fewer second chances than the shot total suggests.

MoneyPuck’s chance-based assessment put the expected result against Pittsburgh around 5-3. That estimate helps illustrate how much offense Columbus generated, though it isn’t the final score or a guarantee of future production. The Jackets can build on that attacking game by getting inside position earlier and staying around the net after the initial shot. One hard-earned goal can change the rhythm of a road game, especially when a team is playing on consecutive nights.

St. Louis enters at 1-2-1, with four points and a minus-four goal differential, and most recently lost 3-2 in overtime to San Jose on Thursday. Those early results suggest an opponent still looking for steadier form. Columbus has an opportunity to test the Blues’ defensive coverage, but it will have to earn that advantage with direct play and repeat pressure rather than assuming the home team’s record will decide the matchup.

More production from the second line

Columbus’s second line has combined for three points through three games. The group showed flashes against Pittsburgh, and its size and skill give it tools to create more. Sean Monahan, at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, is the smallest player on the line, according to the source’s description of the trio. That build can matter around the net if the forwards use it to establish position, protect the puck and make life difficult for defenders.

The formula is straightforward, even if executing it against NHL coverage isn’t: get to the front, win battles for loose pucks and make the defense deal with repeated plays around the crease. Columbus has gotten contributions from its third line in both wins this season, while the top line will have opportunities of its own. For the team to avoid relying on one unit, the second line needs to turn its dangerous shifts into more tangible offense. St. Louis offers an immediate chance to start.

That secondary scoring can be especially valuable on the second half of a back-to-back, when the game may demand contributions across the lineup. The Jackets don’t need every line to dominate. They do need more than one group capable of sustaining pressure and finishing a chance. If the second line can extend offensive-zone shifts and create rebounds, it can ease the burden on the top unit and give Columbus a better path to controlling the game.

Greaves and lineup decisions face a quick turnaround

Jet Greaves is expected to start in the second game of the back-to-back. A quick turnaround can test a goaltender’s preparation, so an early composed stretch will be important. Greaves will need to handle the first wave of St. Louis pressure and be ready for difficult saves later, as Columbus tries to keep the Blues from gaining confidence on home ice.

There’s encouraging history for the Jackets’ starter: reporter Mark Scheig wrote that Greaves is 4-0 lifetime against the Blues with a .946 save percentage, and that his first NHL win came against them. That record is useful context, but tonight’s performance will depend on the chances in front of him and the team’s ability to limit second looks. A familiar opponent doesn’t remove the need for sharp reads and rebound control.

Columbus coach Rick Bowness said all 22 skaters would take part in warmups, leaving game-time decisions on the table. That gives the team options as it manages the back-to-back, though the final group won’t be clear until the lineup is set. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern in St. Louis.

The Jackets showed against Pittsburgh that they can drive play and generate chances. The road test is whether they can repeat that effort with better net-front execution, get meaningful production from the second line and give Greaves enough support to make his strong history against St. Louis count. If those pieces come together, Columbus can turn a busy schedule into a chance to build early momentum.