Columbus Blue Jackets

Oliver Bjorkstrand is back and so too should be the offense
April 4, 2017, 1:54 PM ET [2 Comments]
Paul Berthelot
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The Blue Jackets offense has been dreadful over their last seven games. They have a combined goal total of 10 non-empty net goals. The forward group has been a cause for concern as of those 10 goals; just four have been scored by a forward. Coincidently or not this scoring slump lines up exactly with the injury to Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Since Bjorkstrand’s recall in February he played in 17 games. In those 17 games he was arguably the Blue Jackets top offensive forward. Using the Custom Query feature on Corsica it shows that Bjorkstrand tied for the team lead over that 17 game span with six goals. He also chipped in four assists; his 10 points were tied for fifth with Brandon Saad and Seth Jones. Even more impressive was how effective he was at 5 on 5. He scored all of his 10 points at 5 on 5, giving him a team leading 2.95 points per 60. That ranked 21st in the league, right behind Nikolaj Ehlers and Jake Guentzel and right ahead of Josh Anderson and Artemi Panarin. His 1.77 goals per 60 was behind Anderson for the team lead and ranked 15th in the league.

Even more impressive than his scoring was that all his offense was supported by strong underlying numbers. Bjorkstrand had a 56.62% Corsi at 5 on 5, leading the team and ranking 19th in the league over that time. Relative to the team Bjorkstrand has been a net positive in about every way possible.



Bjorkstrand led the team in relative Corsi For% and in relative expected Goals For%, while ranking third in relative Goals For% and relative Scoring Chances For%. He was an offensive dynamo making things happen, whether it be scoring a goal or creating a chance. He was in the middle of the offense and made things click.

He was also in the middle of the power play, despite having no power play points. Bjorkstrand was inserted very quickly onto the top power play unit and gave the Jackets a whole new dynamic. The Jackets were then able to create two solid power play units. It didn’t always result in goals but the Jackets managed an average 16.2% on the power play with Bjorkstrand in the line-up. That number isn’t that impressive but consider this; in the 19 games after The Streak prior to the Bjorkstrand recall the Jackets PP% was last in the league at 11.6% and in the seven games without Bjorkstrand (including the Toronto game in which he got hurt) the power play was again last in league and has not converted on 15 straight opportunities.

Missing Bjorkstand has been a big loss; the good news though as the title indicates is that he is set to return to the line-up tonight.




His return should provide a big boost. As the tweet says the Jackets will have another new face in the line-up as Sonny Milano has been recalled. Milano has been the Monsters best forward this season with 43 points in 59 games. He brings a lot of skill to the table and adds another offensive element to a group that has been sorely lacking it. With those two coming into the line-up is looks like Matt Calvert will be the one leaving it (Lukas Sedlak is also out of the line-up due to an injury).




This switch should also help the offense. Calvert has been really ineffective since returning from injury. This move has a little bit of addition by subtraction in it, before even getting into what Milano can provide.

The Blue Jackets are in the midst of a giant scoring slump at one of the worst times of the season. They can’t score at 5 on 5 or on the power play. They are adding two high skilled players to the line-up tonight in Oliver Bjorkstrand and Sonny Milano. They should be able to provide a spark to the offense and help get this team back on track.