5 moves the Blue Jackets can make to get back to the playoffs

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin (9) looks on after a missed shot during game 4 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2018. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 17: Jay Beagle #83 of the Washington Capitals and Boone Jenner #38 of the Columbus Blue Jackets battle for a loose puck following a face-off during the first overtime period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Keep the Attitudes in Check

Hockey players are widely known to be some of the most sportsmanlike players off the ice. However, on the ice, many forget that pretty much anything goes. Pretty much.

The Blue Jackets have some decently intense numbers when it comes to penalties, and that needs to be shut down immediately. The thing about penalties is, some can’t be avoided, but lots can. Players will always get those few ridiculous calls, but at the end of the day, this is a situation they can and should control.

Boone Jenner was notably one of the roughest players in the First Round of the playoffs, even going so far as to break Andre Burakovsky’s right hand so badly he needed surgery and wasn’t able to play again until Round Three. The Capitals’ Tom Wilson is someone that hockey fans will continually bring up when it comes to illegal hits, but Jenner has gotten away with a few too many dirty ones. If he doesn’t get his adrenaline in check, he’d be one to consider sidelining a lot in the 2018-19 season.

The team even knows their pension for penalties is a weakness, as left wing Matt Calvert told NHL.com, “We just had too many… and when you do that, you keep giving their skill guys a chance. That’s something we’re gonna be focused on.”

“Don’t take them if you don’t need them” should be the theme of the Jackets and their penalty minutes. They need to rely more on their puck handling and far less on fighting the puck away from other players. As previously mentioned, they’re not exactly well equipped to handle one less man on the ice, so staying out of the box should help them regain traction offensively.

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