Damon Severson’s Return Gives Blue Jackets a Needed Lift Against Penguins

Columbus has a chance to reset its early-season rhythm tonight, and Damon Severson’s return could help address one of the team’s clearest problems: getting the puck safely out of its own end. The Blue Jackets host Pittsburgh at Nationwide Arena after six days without a game, with their first Metropolitan Division matchup ahead and a defenseman back in the lineup.

That break has cut both ways. Columbus has played only twice, while the Penguins have already appeared in four games. The Jackets should have fresh legs, but rest alone won’t fix the disconnected play that showed up in their opening pair of contests. The challenge is turning the extra practice time into cleaner decisions and coordinated shifts against a division opponent.

Severson’s return reshapes the blue line

Reporter Mark Scheig wrote on October 8 that all indications pointed to Severson making his season debut Friday against Pittsburgh. Scheig noted that the defenseman had completed a full practice. Severson had been sidelined since March 26, when he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his previous season.

His return comes at a useful moment. Columbus has also been without Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro, leaving the remaining defensemen to absorb more responsibility. The first two games exposed how difficult that workload can become when the Jackets struggle to move the puck through their own zone. Severson is expected to take on roughly 20 minutes, according to the source article’s projection, compared with about eight minutes for Jake Christiansen.

That change could ease the burden across the pairings. With Zach Werenski the exception, the other defensemen can shift into less demanding spots in the lineup. More balanced minutes may help Columbus keep its exits organized and avoid extended defensive-zone shifts. It won’t guarantee a smoother night, but it gives the coaching staff another experienced option while the blue line is short-handed.

The Penguins’ No. 87 remains a threat, and the Jackets will need to limit the time he and his teammates spend attacking. Getting the puck out promptly matters for more than territory: it gives Columbus a chance to change lines, establish its forecheck and keep its goaltender from facing repeated pressure. Severson’s ability to shoulder a substantial share of the minutes could help on each front.

Fresh legs need a clear plan

The opening two games offered sharply different lessons. Columbus scored with relative ease against Buffalo on opening night and carried momentum for long stretches. When the Sabres began to push back, Mathieu Olivier helped the Jackets regain their footing. The game included a two-minute five-on-three disadvantage, but Columbus recovered and closed out the win. The opening-night result showed the team could respond when the flow turned against it.

Two nights later against Utah, that response didn’t arrive. The Mammoth controlled much of the momentum, and Columbus struggled to get into the contest. The Jackets also looked disjointed: passes missed their targets, players tried to force plays, and the trouble getting out of the defensive zone compounded the problem. That loss left a different question for the team to answer: can it settle into its structure when the opponent takes control?

Five full days away from games gave the coaching staff time to work on those details. The source article described the pause as almost a second training camp, though that extra preparation only matters if it shows up on the ice. Expecting energy is reasonable after a long gap; expecting that energy to solve every issue isn’t. Columbus needs to direct it toward short, connected passes, support for the puck carrier and disciplined coverage.

Respond when momentum turns

Against Pittsburgh, the Jackets will have an early test of whether they can change the feel of a game when it starts to slip. The source article points to the team’s physical identity as one way to spark that response. The useful version of that approach is assertive, organized hockey: win contested pucks, make opponents work for space and keep shifts from becoming extended defensive scrambles.

That’s especially relevant in a Metropolitan Division matchup, where points against a divisional opponent carry added weight in the standings. Columbus has little margin to waste on avoidable turnovers or slow starts. But the Penguins have played more often, and a rested opponent can still be caught flat if its first passes and reads are off. The Jackets need to make the opening minutes count without forcing plays.

Severson’s availability offers a tangible lineup boost; the longer break offers a chance to sharpen the team’s execution. Together, they give Columbus a better setup than it had in its first two games, but the measure will be whether the defense can move the puck and the whole group can hold its shape when Pittsburgh pushes back. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Nationwide Arena.