As the Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to face off against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center, fans are eager to see if their team can continue their recent offensive surge. The upcoming match, scheduled for February 18th, will be a test of whether Columbus can maintain their momentum on enemy ice.

Mar 14, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks left winger Alexander Barabanov (94) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jackets have shown a remarkable ability to find the back of the net in recent games. In their last away game against the Buffalo Sabres, they dominated with an impressive nine goals from thirty-four shots, translating into a shooting percentage of twenty-six percent. This offensive explosion was complemented by solid goaltending that saw twenty-five saves and a save percentage rounding up to one hundred percent.

However, consistency has been an issue for Columbus. In their previous home game against Toronto Maple Leafs, they struggled with only one goal from twenty-eight shots – a meager four percent shooting efficiency – and faced defeat despite matching Toronto in hits and faceoffs won.

Mar 14, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks left winger William Eklund (72) is greeted by his teammates after scoring his first-ever NHL goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Against Washington Capitals before that, Columbus managed two goals on thirty-six shots but ultimately fell short in overtime. While they lost by just one goal and had more shots on target than Washington's thirty-two attempts, it highlighted areas where improvement is needed if they want to secure victories consistently.

The venue could play a significant role in this matchup; playing away from Nationwide Arena means adapting quickly to different conditions at SAP Center. The Sharks will have home-ice advantage and likely draw energy from their fans' support.

Mar 14, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau (13) shoots the game-winning goal past San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (36) in overtime at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Columbus needs to leverage its recent high-scoring performance while shoring up any defensive lapses that have cost them close games. Fans should look forward to seeing if the Blue Jackets can sustain their attacking prowess and convert opportunities into points on the board.

Catch all the action live on ESPN+ nationally or BSOH channel 660 for local coverage of this thrilling encounter set for February 18th at 03:30 AM UTC (February 17th at 10:30 PM Eastern Time).

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