BLUE JACKETS REGULAR SEASON WRAP UP

The Columbus Blue Jackets continued their regular season success as one of the best teams in the RHL this season, battling division rivals the New Jersey Devils for the top spot in the division and the Eastern Conference, ultimately falling just short by three points in the standings. One of the driving forces behind the team's success this season has been their goaltender, Darcy Kuemper, who has been an absolute superstar. With 39 wins and a GAA of 2.02, Kuemper has been one of the best goalies in the league this season. His impressive .929 SV% shows just how valuable he is to the Blue Jackets and has been instrumental in helping his team stay in contention for the RHL Stanley Cup championship.

The Blue Jackets were fortunate to have a three-pronged attack in their top scorers of Nazem Kadri, Tage Thompson, and Mika Zibanejad. Kadri has scored 32 goals and added 46 assists for a total of 78 points. While he was a minus 5 on the season, his offensive prowess has been crucial to the team's success. Tage Thompson also made a late-season push to join the top scoring ranks on the team, matching Nazem’s 32 goals and posting 40 assists for 72 points, while also being responsible defensively, carrying a plus 13. Zibanejad closely followed Thompson, with 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points, and posted an even better plus 17. With such dynamic and talented offensive leaders, it's no surprise that the Blue Jackets have been a dominant power in the RHL this season.

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the team this year is the emergence of rookie player Matty Beniers. The 19-year-old has proven to be a great addition to the Jackets' squad, performing far beyond his years on the ice. Beniers has put up 27 goals and 31 assists for a total of 58 points, which places him right slightly behind Anton Lundell of the Blackhawks who led rookie scoring with 66 points. What may be more impressive though, is Beniers did this on one of the top teams in the league, helping to propel his team into the playoffs, which Lundell was not able to do. As such, he will certainly be a major contender for the Rookie of the Year award.

Another key element that's helped the Blue Jackets stay among the RHL's best teams this season is their exceptional defense. With players like Alex Pietrangelo, Hampus Lindholm, and Quinn Hughes leading the way, they have been a rock-solid unit, allowing only 2.3 goals per game. This rate places them among the league's best, and it has enabled them to win the tight games that often decide playoff races.

The Blue Jackets found themselves locked in a fierce battle with the New Jersey Devils for supremacy in the division and in the Eastern Conference heading down the final stretch of the season but were unfortunately unable to overcome their division rival. This will give the Devils home-ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference rounds and could see the Eastern juggernauts colliding in the second round if they are able to make it out of their first-round matchups. The Devils are currently leading their series 3-0 and the Jackets are up on the Penguins 2-1, though they dropped their last game and the first on the road in these playoffs. 

Ultimately, the Blue Jackets' success this season has been due to a variety of factors working in tandem. From their elite goaltending to their dynamic offensive leaders and exceptional defense, the Blue Jackets have all the ingredients necessary for a deep playoff run. As they gear up for a run at the RHL championship over the next few weeks, they will no doubt continue to rely on their standout players to light the path to victory. If all goes well, we could see the Jackets take a run at their second Stanley Cup Championship under GM MixtureBill’s tenure since taking over the team at the start of the 2015 season.