2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. This season marked the first time the Blue Jackets were in the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2013–14 season.

Regular season The Blue Jackets finished October with a record of 3 wins, 3 regulation losses and an overtime loss, but in November they won 9, lost 2 in regulation and 3 in overtime. On November 29, 2016, the team began a winning streak that ran to 16 consecutive games, including a perfect 14-0-0 record in December, but ended on January 5, 2017, with a loss to the Washington Capitals. The 16 game winning streak was one short of the NHL record 17 games, set by the 1992–93 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2016 Pre-season game log: 4–4–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 25 St. Louis 5–0 Columbus Forsberg 8,574 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 25 Columbus 3–7 St. Louis Korpisalo 10,394 0–2–0 Recap 3 September 26 Columbus 3–2 Boston SO McElhinney 16,285 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 29 Nashville 2–3 Columbus OT McElhinney 8,644 2–2–0 Recap 5 October 2 Pittsburgh 0–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 11,966 2–3–0 Recap 6 October 4 Columbus 3–2 Nashville OT Korpisalo 16,432 3–3–0 Recap 7 October 6 Boston 2–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 8,851 3–4–0 Recap 8 October 8 Columbus 5–3 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,258 4–4–0 Recap – indicates split-squad game.

Regular season 2016–17 game log October: 3–3–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 13 Boston 6–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,144 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 15 San Jose 3–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 16,546 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 21 Chicago 2–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,789 1–2–0 2 Recap 4 October 22 Columbus 3–0 Dallas Bobrovsky 18,532 2–2–0 4 Recap 5 October 25 Columbus 2–3 Los Angeles OT Bobrovsky 18,230 2–2–1 5 Recap 6 October 27 Columbus 1–3 San Jose Bobrovsky 17,229 2–3–1 5 Recap 7 October 28 Columbus 4–0 Anaheim Bobrovsky 15,841 3–3–1 7 Recap November: 9–2–3 (home: 7–1–1; road: 2–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 8 November 1 Dallas 2–3 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 10,141 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 November 4 Montreal 0–10 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,436 5–3–1 11 Recap 10 November 5 Columbus 1–2 St. Louis OT McElhinney 18,245 5–3–2 12 Recap 11 November 9 Anaheim 2–3 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 10,250 6–3–2 14 Recap 12 November 10 Columbus 2–5 Boston Bobrovsky 17,565 6–4–2 14 Recap 13 November 12 St. Louis 4–8 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,788 7–4–2 16 Recap 14 November 15 Washington 1–2 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 11,738 8–4–2 18 Recap 15 November 18 NY Rangers 2–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,541 9–4–2 20 Recap 16 November 20 Columbus 3–2 Washington Bobrovsky 18,506 10–4–2 22 Recap 17 November 21 Colorado 3–2 Columbus OT McElhinney 10,063 10–4–3 23 Recap 18 November 23 Calgary 2–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,140 10–5–3 23 Recap 19 November 25 Columbus 5–3 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 19,092 11–5–3 25 Recap 20 November 26 Columbus 1–2 Florida SO Bobrovsky 13,573 11–5–4 26 Recap 21 November 29 Tampa Bay 1–5 Columbus Bobrovsky 10,366 12–5–4 28 Recap December: 14–0–0 (home: 6–0–0; road: 8–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 22 December 1 Columbus 3–2 Colorado Bobrovsky 12,141 13–5–4 30 Recap 23 December 3 Columbus 3–2 Arizona SO McElhinney 11,287 14–5–4 32 Recap 24 December 5 Arizona 1–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 11,091 15–5–4 34 Recap 25 December 9 Columbus 4–1 Detroit Bobrovsky 20,027 16–5–4 36 Recap 26 December 10 NY Islanders 2–6 Columbus Bobrovsky 16,928 17–5–4 38 Recap 27 December 13 Columbus 3–1 Edmonton Bobrovsky 18,347 18–5–4 40 Recap 28 December 16 Columbus 4–1 Calgary Bobrovsky 18,045 19–5–4 42 Recap 29 December 18 Columbus 4–3 Vancouver OT Bobrovsky 18,113 20–5–4 44 Recap 30 December 20 Los Angeles 2–3 Columbus SO McElhinney 16,568 21–5–4 46 Recap 31 December 22 Pittsburgh 1–7 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,115 22–5–4 48 Recap 32 December 23 Montreal 1–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,147 23–5–4 50 Recap 33 December 27 Boston 3–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,005 24–5–4 52 Recap 34 December 29 Columbus 5–3 Winnipeg Bobrovsky 15,294 25–5–4 54 Recap 35 December 31 Columbus 4–2 Minnesota Bobrovsky 19,307 26–5–4 56 Recap January: 7–7–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 36 January 3 Edmonton 1–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 17,169 27–5–4 58 Recap 37 January 5 Columbus 0–5 Washington Bobrovsky 18,506 27–6–4 58 Recap 38 January 7 NY Rangers 5–4 Columbus McElhinney 19,001 27–7–4 58 Recap 39 January 8 Philadelphia 1–2 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 17,962 28–7–4 60 Recap 40 January 10 Columbus 3–5 Carolina Forsberg 9,351 28–8–4 60 Recap 41 January 13 Columbus 3–1 Tampa Bay Korpisalo 19,092 29–8–4 62 Recap 42 January 14 Columbus 3–4 Florida Korpisalo 14,795 29–9–4 62 Recap 43 January 17 Carolina 1–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,724 30–9–4 64 Recap 44 January 19 Ottawa 2–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,823 30–10–4 64 Recap 45 January 21 Carolina 2–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,033 31–10–4 66 Recap 46 January 22 Columbus 7–6 Ottawa OT Korpisalo 16,702 32–10–4 68 Recap 47 January 24 Columbus 2–4 NY Islanders Bobrovsky 11,419 32–11–4 68 Recap 48 January 26 Columbus 3–4 Nashville Bobrovsky 17,113 32–12–4 68 Recap January 27–29 All-Star Break in Los Angeles 49 January 31 Columbus 6–4 NY Rangers Korpisalo 18,006 33–12–4 70 Recap February: 6–4–2 (home: 4–4–0; road: 2–0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 3 Columbus 3–4 Pittsburgh OT Bobrovsky 18,649 33–12–5 71 Recap 51 February 4 New Jersey 5–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,566 33–13–5 71 Recap 52 February 7 Columbus 3–2 Detroit OT Bobrovsky 20,027 34–13–5 73 Recap 53 February 9 Vancouver 3–0 Columbus Bobrovsky 13,979 34–14–5 73 Recap 54 February 11 Detroit 1–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,143 35–14–5 75 Recap 55 February 13 NY Rangers 3–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,378 35–15–5 75 Recap 56 February 15 Toronto 2–5 Columbus Korpisalo 14,548 36–15–5 77 Recap 57 February 17 Pittsburgh 1–2 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 19,188 37–15–5 79 Recap 58 February 19 Nashville 4–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 17,894 37–16–5 79 Recap 59 February 25 NY Islanders 0–7 Columbus Korpisalo 18,183 38–16–5 81 Recap 60 February 26 Columbus 5–2 NY Rangers Bobrovsky 18,006 39–16–5 83 Recap 61 February 28 Columbus 0–1 Montreal OT Bobrovsky 21,288 39–16–6 84 Recap March: 10–4–2 (home: 6–1–0; road: 4–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 2 Minnesota 0–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,987 40–16–6 86 Recap 63 March 4 Columbus 2–3 Ottawa Korpisalo 17,516 40–17–6 86 Recap 64 March 5 Columbus 3–0 New Jersey Bobrovsky 14,054 41–17–6 88 Recap 65 March 7 New Jersey 0–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 15,947 42–17–6 90 Recap 66 March 10 Buffalo 3–4 Columbus Bobrovsky 17,530 43–17–6 92 Recap 67 March 11 Columbus 3–5 Buffalo Korpisalo 18,744 43–18–6 92 Recap 68 March 13 Columbus 5–3 Philadelphia Bobrovsky 19,447 44–18–6 94 Recap 69 March 16 Florida 1–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,921 45–18–6 96 Recap 70 March 18 Columbus 3–2 NY Islanders OT Korpisalo 14,007 46–18–6 98 Recap 71 March 19 Columbus 4–1 New Jersey Bobrovsky 14,254 47–18–6 100 Recap 72 March 22 Toronto 5–2 Columbus Korpisalo 16,106 47–19–6 100 Recap 73 March 23 Columbus 1–2 Washington SO Bobrovsky 18,506 47–19–7 101 Recap 74 March 25 Philadelphia 0–1 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,052 48–19–7 103 Recap 75 March 28 Buffalo 1–3 Columbus Bobrovsky 14,533 49–19–7 105 Recap 76 March 30 Columbus 1–2 Carolina OT Korpisalo 11,881 49–19–8 106 Recap 77 March 31 Columbus 1–3 Chicago Bobrovsky 22,112 49–20–8 106 Recap April: 1–4–0 (home: 0–2–0; road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Washington 3–2 Columbus Bobrovsky 18,247 49–21–8 106 Recap 79 April 4 Columbus 1–4 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,632 49–22–8 106 Recap 80 April 6 Winnipeg 5–4 Columbus Korpisalo 16,477 49–23–8 106 Recap 81 April 8 Columbus 2–4 Philadelphia Bobrovsky 19,789 49–24–8 106 Recap 82 April 9 Columbus 3–2 Toronto Korpisalo 19,369 50–24–8 108 RecapLegend:

Playoffs

The Blue Jackets clinched the playoffs for the first time since the 2013–14 season. They met the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round and lost the series 4–1.

2017 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference first round vs. (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins: Pittsburgh won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 12 Columbus 1–3 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,563 0–1 Recap 2 April 14 Columbus 1–4 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,622 0–2 Recap 3 April 16 Pittsburgh 5–4 Columbus OT Bobrovsky 19,092 0–3 Recap 4 April 18 Pittsburgh 4–5 Columbus Bobrovsky 19,093 1–3 Recap 5 April 20 Columbus 2–5 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,585 1–4 Recap Legend:

Player statistics Final Stats Skaters

Regular season Player 82 35 27 62 13 22 80 13 46 59 9 21 82 24 29 53 23 8 79 26 25 51 −4 55 81 18 32 50 10 22 78 11 36 47 17 14 75 12 30 42 6 24 80 12 29 41 16 91 78 13 24 37 14 63 82 18 16 34 14 52 78 17 12 29 12 89 81 6 19 25 10 10 74 6 17 23 33 44 82 5 18 23 23 32 65 10 5 15 −4 48 62 7 6 13 10 25 26 6 7 13 4 6 60 2 9 11 3 24 66 2 5 7 7 6 † 20 2 1 3 0 12 22 1 2 3 3 10 ‡ 15 0 3 3 4 14 10 1 1 2 0 6 2 0 1 1 −2 0 † 9 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 −3 0 3 0 0 0 −1 0

Playoffs Player 5 2 1 3 −3 0 5 2 1 3 −2 14 5 2 1 3 4 0 5 1 2 3 −5 0 5 1 1 2 2 2 4 1 1 2 4 4 5 1 1 2 −2 6 5 1 1 2 −3 0 2 1 1 2 3 0 4 0 2 2 −3 6 5 0 2 2 −3 2 5 0 2 2 −4 0 3 1 0 1 −2 0 5 0 1 1 −2 0 2 0 1 1 −1 2 5 0 1 1 −4 4 5 0 1 1 −3 2 5 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 10 4 0 0 0 −2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 63 63 3707:04 41 17 5 127 2.06 1,854 .931 7 0 0 8 14 13 790:31 7 5 1 38 2.88 401 .905 1 0 0 0 ‡ 7 5 375:55 2 1 2 15 2.39 198 .924 0 0 0 0 1 1 58:35 0 1 0 4 4.10 27 .852 0 0 0 0 Playoffs Player 5 4 309:15 1 3 1 20 3.88 170 .882 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blue Jackets. Statistics reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Statistics reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions The Blue Jackets have been involved in the following transactions during the 2016–17 season.

Trades

DateRef June 25, 2016 To Toronto Maple Leafs Kerby Rychel To Columbus Blue Jackets Scott Harringtonconditional 5th-round pick in 2017 November 28, 2016 To Colorado Avalanche Cody Goloubef To Columbus Blue Jackets Ryan Stanton March 1, 2017 To New Jersey Devils Dalton Prout To Columbus Blue Jackets Kyle Quincey March 1, 2017 To Dallas Stars Dillon Heatherington To Columbus Blue Jackets Lauri Korpikoski

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Dante Salituro Ottawa 67's 3 years, $2.2 million entry-level contract Jacob Graves London Knights 3 years, $2.775 million entry-level contract Sam Gagner Philadelphia Flyers 1 year, $650,000 Marc-Andre Bergeron No team 1 year, $575,000 Sam Vigneault Clarkson University 2 years, $1.85 million entry-level contract Matiss Kivlenieks Sioux City Musketeers 3 years, $3.2 million entry-level

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Michael Chaput Vancouver Canucks 1 year, $600,000 Fedor Tyutin Colorado Avalanche 1 year, $2 million Justin Falk Buffalo Sabres 1 year, $650,000 Jared Boll Anaheim Ducks 2 years, $1.8 million Rene Bourque Colorado Avalanche 1 year, $650,000 Daniel Zaar Malmö Redhawks 2-year

Claimed via waivers Player Old team Date claimed off waivers Ref Zac Dalpe Minnesota Wild

Lost via waivers Player New team Date claimed off waivers Ref Curtis McElhinney Toronto Maple Leafs

Player signings