2020–21 Columbus Blue Jackets season

National Hockey League season

2020–21 Columbus Blue Jackets
Division8th Central
2020–21 record18–26–12
Home record11–9–8
Road record7–17–4
Goals for137
Goals against187
Team information
General managerJarmo Kekalainen
CoachJohn Tortorella
CaptainNick Foligno (Jan. 14 – Apr. 10)
Vacant (Apr. 10 – Oct. 12)
Alternate captainsCam Atkinson
Boone Jenner
Seth Jones
ArenaNationwide Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
Team leaders
GoalsOliver Bjorkstrand (18)
AssistsOliver Bjorkstrand (26)
PointsOliver Bjorkstrand (44)
Penalty minutesMax Domi (75)
Plus/minusEric Robinson (+6)
WinsJoonas Korpisalo (9)
Goals against averageElvis Merzlikins (2.77)

The 2020–21 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the 21st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.[1] On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Blue Jackets played the season in the Central Division and only played games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season.

On April 22, the Blue Jackets were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since the 2015–16 season, after a 3–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[2]

Standings

Central Division
Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Carolina Hurricanes 56 36 12 8 27 179 136 +43 80
2 x – Florida Panthers 56 37 14 5 26 189 153 +36 79
3 x – Tampa Bay Lightning 56 36 17 3 29 181 147 +34 75
4 x – Nashville Predators 56 31 23 2 21 156 154 +2 64
5 e – Dallas Stars 56 23 19 14 17 158 154 +4 60
6 e – Chicago Blackhawks 56 24 25 7 15 161 186 −25 55
7 e – Detroit Red Wings 56 19 27 10 17 127 171 −44 48
8 e – Columbus Blue Jackets 56 18 26 12 12 137 187 −50 48
Source: National Hockey League[3]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[4]

2020–21 game log
January: 4–3–3 (Home: 2–0–2 ; Road: 2–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
1 January 14 Columbus 1–3 Nashville Korpisalo 0 0–1–0 0 [5]
2 January 16 Columbus 2–5 Nashville Merzlikins 0 0–2–0 0 [6]
3 January 18 Columbus 3–2 Detroit Korpisalo 0 1–2–0 2 [7]
4 January 19 Columbus 2–3 Detroit OT Merzlikins 0 1–2–1 3 [8]
5 January 21 Tampa Bay 3–2 Columbus OT Korpisalo 0 1–2–2 4 [9]
6 January 23 Tampa Bay 2–5 Columbus Merzlikins 0 2–2–2 6 [10]
7 January 26 Florida 4–3 Columbus SO Korpisalo 0 2–2–3 7 [11]
8 January 28 Florida 2–3 Columbus SO Merzlikins 0 3–2–3 9 [12]
9 January 29 Columbus 2–1 Chicago Korpisalo 0 4–2–3 11 [13]
10 January 31 Columbus 1–3 Chicago Merzlikins 0 4–3–3 11 [14]
February: 4–7–2 (Home: 2–4–1 ; Road: 2–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
11 February 2 Dallas 6–3 Columbus Korpisalo 0 4–4–3 11 [15]
12 February 4 Dallas 3–4 Columbus Korpisalo 0 5–4–3 13 [16]
13 February 7 Carolina 6–5 Columbus Korpisalo 0 5–5–3 13 [17]
14 February 8 Carolina 2–3 Columbus Korpisalo 0 6–5–3 15 [18]
15 February 11 Columbus 6–5 Chicago Korpisalo 0 7–5–3 17 [19]
16 February 13 Columbus 2–3 Chicago OT Korpisalo 0 7–5–4 18 [20]
17 February 15 Columbus 3–7 Carolina Korpisalo 0 7–6–4 18 [21]
18 February 18 Nashville 0–3 Columbus Merzlikins 0 8–6–4 20 [22]
19 February 20 Nashville 4–2 Columbus Merzlikins 0 8–7–4 20 [23]
20 February 23 Chicago 6–5 Columbus SO Korpisalo 0 8–7–5 21 [24]
21 February 25 Chicago 2–0 Columbus Korpisalo 0 8–8–5 21 [25]
22 February 27 Columbus 1–2 Nashville Korpisalo —[a] 8–9–5 21 [26]
23 February 28 Columbus 1–3 Nashville Korpisalo —[a] 8–10–5 21 [27]
March: 6–5–3 (Home: 2–2–3 ; Road: 4–3–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
24 March 2 Detroit 1–4 Columbus Korpisalo 1,953 9–10–5 23 [28]
25 March 4 Columbus 3–2 Dallas Korpisalo 4,112 10–10–5 25 [29]
26 March 6 Columbus 0–5 Dallas Korpisalo 4,203 10–11–5 25 [30]
27 March 9 Florida 4–2 Columbus Korpisalo 3,448 10–12–5 25 [31]
28 March 11 Florida 5–4 Columbus OT Merzlikins 3,739 10–12–6 26 [32]
29 March 13 Dallas 3–4 Columbus OT Merzlikins 4,160 11–12–6 28 [33]
30 March 14 Dallas 2–1 Columbus SO Korpisalo 3,992 11–12–7 29 [34]
31 March 18 Columbus 3–2 Carolina OT Korpisalo 2,924 12–12–7 31 [35]
32 March 20 Columbus 3–2 Carolina SO Merzlikins 2,924 13–12–7 33 [36]
33 March 22 Carolina 3–0 Columbus Korpisalo 3,829 13–13–7 33 [37]
34 March 25 Carolina 4–3 Columbus OT Korpisalo 4,033 13–13–8 34 [38]
35 March 27 Columbus 1–3 Detroit Merzlikins 0 13–14–8 34 [39]
36 March 28 Columbus 1–4 Detroit Merzlikins 0 13–15–8 34 [40]
37 March 30 Columbus 3–1 Tampa Bay Merzlikins 3,800 14–15–8 36 [41]
April: 2–10–2 (Home: 2–2–1 ; Road: 0–8–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
38 April 1 Columbus 2–3 Tampa Bay Merzlikins 3,800 14–16–8 36 [42]
39 April 3 Columbus 2–5 Florida Merzlikins 4,375 14–17–8 36 [43]
40 April 4 Columbus 0–3 Florida Korpisalo 4,069 14–18–8 36 [44]
41 April 6 Tampa Bay 2–4 Columbus Korpisalo 4,080 15–18–8 38 [45]
42 April 8 Tampa Bay 6–4 Columbus Merzlikins 4,143 15–19–8 38 [46]
43 April 10 Chicago 4–3 Columbus Merzlikins 4,502 15–20–8 38 [47]
44 April 12 Chicago 4–3 Columbus OT Korpisalo 4,093 15–20–9 39 [48]
45 April 15 Columbus 1–4 Dallas Merzlikins 4,201 15–21–9 39 [49]
46 April 17 Columbus 1–5 Dallas Korpisalo 5,643 15–22–9 39 [50]
47 April 19 Columbus 2–4 Florida Merzlikins 4,041 15–23–9 39 [51]
48 April 20 Columbus 1–5 Florida Korpisalo 4,132 15–24–9 39 [52]
49 April 22 Columbus 1–3 Tampa Bay Merzlikins 4,200 15–25–9 39 [53]
50 April 25 Columbus 3–4 Tampa Bay OT Merzlikins 4,200 15–25–10 40 [54]
51 April 27 Detroit 0–1 Columbus SO Merzlikins 4,316 16–25–10 42 [55]
May: 2–1–2 (Home: 2–1–1 ; Road: 0–0–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
52 May 1 Columbus 1–2 Carolina OT Merzlikins 4,987 16–25–11 43 [56]
53 May 3 Nashville 4–3 Columbus OT Merzlikins 4,210 16–25–12 44 [57]
54 May 5 Nashville 2–4 Columbus Merzlikins 4,084 17–25–12 46 [58]
55 May 7 Detroit 5–2 Columbus Kivlenieks 4,402 17–26–12 46 [59]
56 May 8 Detroit 4–5 Columbus OT Kivlenieks 4,493 18–26–12 48 [60]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Notes

  1. ^ a b Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.

References

  1. ^ National Hockey League (2013). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. Diamond Sports Data, Inc. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-894801-26-3.
  2. ^ "Blue Jackets miss playoffs due to center issues, defensive play". NHL.com. April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "NHL Hockey Standings". www.nhl.com. National Hockey League.
  4. ^ "2020-21 NHL schedule announced". NHL.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Nashville Predators - January 14th, 2021". NHL.com.
  6. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Nashville Predators - January 16th, 2021". NHL.com.
  7. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Detroit Red Wings - January 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Detroit Red Wings - January 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Columbus Blue Jackets - January 21st, 2021". NHL.com.
  10. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Columbus Blue Jackets - January 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  11. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - January 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  12. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - January 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
  13. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Chicago Blackhawks - January 29th, 2021". NHL.com.
  14. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Chicago Blackhawks - January 31st, 2021". NHL.com.
  15. ^ "Dallas Stars - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 2nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  16. ^ "Dallas Stars - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  17. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  18. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  19. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Chicago Blackhawks - February 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  20. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Chicago Blackhawks - February 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  21. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - February 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  22. ^ "Nashville Predators - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  23. ^ "Nashville Predators - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  24. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  25. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  26. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Nashville Predators - February 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  27. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Nashville Predators - February 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
  28. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 2nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  29. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Dallas Stars - March 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  30. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Dallas Stars - March 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  31. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 9th, 2021". NHL.com.
  32. ^ "Florida Panthers - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  33. ^ "Dallas Stars - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  34. ^ "Dallas Stars - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 14th, 2021". NHL.com.
  35. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - March 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  36. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - March 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  37. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  38. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  39. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Detroit Red Wings - March 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  40. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Detroit Red Wings - March 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
  41. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Tampa Bay Lightning - March 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
  42. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  43. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  44. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  45. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Columbus Blue Jackets - April 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  46. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Columbus Blue Jackets - April 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  47. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Columbus Blue Jackets - April 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  48. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Columbus Blue Jackets - April 12th, 2021". NHL.com.
  49. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Dallas Stars - April 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  50. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Dallas Stars - April 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  51. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  52. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Florida Panthers - April 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  53. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  54. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  55. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Columbus Blue Jackets - April 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  56. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - May 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  57. ^ "Nashville Predators - Columbus Blue Jackets - May 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  58. ^ "Nashville Predators - Columbus Blue Jackets - May 5th, 2021". NHL.com.
  59. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Columbus Blue Jackets - May 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  60. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Columbus Blue Jackets - May 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
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