Opinion
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Columbus Blue Jackets Set to Battle St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center

As the Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to face off against the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center, fans are eager for what promises to be an electrifying game. The upcoming clash scheduled for January 31st will test the mettle of a team that has shown both moments of brilliance and periods of struggle.


Dec 8, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jackets' recent performance has been a rollercoaster, with their last three games painting a picture of inconsistency. On December 24th against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they suffered a disappointing loss with only one goal scored compared to four by their opponents. This was particularly disheartening given that they were playing on home ice at Nationwide Arena in front of over 17,000 fans.


However, just two days prior on December 22nd, Columbus showed resilience in an overtime loss against the Washington Capitals. Despite falling short in extra time, they managed two goals and pushed their adversaries hard throughout regulation and beyond.


Dec 8, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves (73) makes a save against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

But it's their dominant display on December 20th against the Buffalo Sabres that should give fans hope heading into St. Louis. The Blue Jackets put up an impressive nine goals while conceding only four – showcasing their offensive potential when everything clicks into place.


Against St. Louis Blues, CBJ must capitalize on this offensive firepower while shoring up defensively to avoid repeating past mistakes seen in recent games where they've allowed too many shots on goal and struggled with penalty kills.


Dec 8, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) chips the puck past St. Louis Blues defenseman Nick Leddy (4) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The key for CBJ will be maintaining discipline and taking advantage of power plays – areas where they've had mixed success recently but have shown capability when performing optimally.


Staring down at them across the ice will be a formidable Blues squad known for its tenacity and skillful playmaking abilities which means CBJ's defensemen will need to be vigilant throughout all three periods if they are hoping for victory.


In conclusion, as we look forward to this matchup between Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center, it's clear that if CBJ can harness their evident offensive prowess while tightening up defensively – there is every chance they can skate away with a win under those bright arena lights.


Fans won't want to miss this encounter set for January 31st at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM local time). You can catch all the action live from Enterprise Center or tune into ESPN+ nationally or BSOH channel 660 locally in Columbus or BSMW channel 671 if you're cheering from afar.

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