The Columbus Blue Jackets are off to a 2-2-0 start to the 2026-27 season. They’ve had some bright spots. They’ve had some low moments. Overall, it’s equated to a .500 record after four games.
As head coach Rick Bowness said postgame Saturday night after the Blue Jackets 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, they can’t have a good game, bad game, good game, bad game cycle. That is something the team will need to rectify as soon as possible.
The Blue Jackets will get their chance to win their third of the season Tuesday night when they host the Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena. It is Frozen Frenzy night. With all 32 teams in action with staggered start times, the Panthers and Blue Jackets will begin at 6:15 eastern which is the second game of the night.
We begin this week in Blue Jackets News & Rumors with a potential lineup change and a significant one if it comes to pass.
Del Bel Belluz Season Debut?
The Blue Jackets held an earlier morning skate than usual on Tuesday with the earlier start time. When they ran lines, two notable things were seen.
First, Conor Garland wasn’t on the ice. He practiced on Monday according to THW’s Wes Minke. But then second, it was Luca Del Bel Belluz not only at center, but also in the top-six skating with Sean Monahan on the left and Valeri Nichushkin on the right.
Do we have a season debut on tap for Del Bel Belluz? Maybe.
“Garland is under the weather,” Bowness said in his availability. “He’ll be a game-time decision. If he doesn’t play, then Luca goes in. He’ll go with (Monahan) on left-wing and Val (Nichushkin) on the right.”
Bowness understands the kind of skill set a player like Del Bel Belluz brings. That was his reasoning for having him skate in the top-six at the morning skate.
“He’s not your typical fourth-line player,” Bowness said. “So if he’s going to play, we’re going to give him a good look.”
Del Bel Belluz made the Blue Jackets out of camp in part because he would have needed waivers to get to the AHL. He’s been waiting his turn ever since.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Del Bel Belluz said. “This is where I want to play hockey, so I’ve just got to do what I was told to do and being what I can tonight.”
Luca Del Bel Belluz will make his season debut on Tuesday if Conor Garland is unavailable to play. (Photo by Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images)
Del Bel Belluz has taken everything in stride despite not playing in a game yet this season. Whether he plays on Tuesday or not, he’s excited knowing his chance is coming soon.
“It’s not the easiest (waiting), but it’s all part of it,” Del Bel Belluz said. “I want to be here. If that’s what it takes to wait around a little bit, then that’s what it takes. I’m just excited if I do get my opportunity tonight and I’ll be ready.”
Early Goaltending Trend
It’s only four games into the season, but the Blue Jackets’ goaltending situation is already interesting. Starter Jet Greaves is off to 1-2-0 start. He won his first game of the season but then suffered losses to the Utah Mammoth and most recently the St. Louis Blues.
Cam Talbot won his only start against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He gets his second start of the season on Tuesday against the Panthers.
Bowness was asked if he’s playing Talbot more than expected so far given Greaves’ first three starts.
“I’m a little more concerned with how the team played in front of him than I am about Jet,” Bowness said. “Didn’t like the game. We’re giving up 10 scoring chances one game and then we’re giving up 18 the next. That’s what my biggest concern is to tighten that up and get a lot more consistent at that … We’re not worried about him. We got to get playing better in front of him.”
As for Talbot, Bowness was impressed with the goaltender’s first start. The Blue Jackets wanted to get him right back in.
“He deserves to go right back in there,” Bowness said. “If you don’t play him until the weekend, that’s a long stretch between starts for him. Obviously, they’ll both play on the weekend. But He had a great game, so we’re going to get him right back in there.”
Side Dishes
The Blue Jackets are by far the best faceoff team in the very early going at 58.6%. That’s four percent ahead of second place, the Dallas Stars, who are at 54.6%. Adam Fantilli at over 77% and Charlie Coyle just under 64% have led the charge. How can they turn this success into more desirable results? Here’s Bowness: “We scored the other night off the O-zone face-off. We got to create more offense from that. I’d like to see us break the puck out a little bit better in the D-zone when we get it … try to make some more plays rather than just creating the lead, redlining, slamming it in. When the opportunity is to create some offense from that, we’d like to see us take advantage of that.”
Bowness said Emil Andrae not playing was a result of Damon Severson returning. The Blue Jackets have 7D so someone has to sit. “We’ve been pretty happy with Jake’s (Christiansen) last couple of games. So we’re not disappointed in (Andrae’s) game at all. It’s a numbers game and he’ll get back in there soon. Did he play his way of the lineup? No. These are game-to-game decisions at this point.”
The six defense on Tuesday will be the same as Saturday according to Bowness. We’ll see if it’s a slightly different alignment. Denton Mateychuk rotated with Christiansen and Andrae while Carson Soucy skated with Erik Gudbranson on Tuesday morning.
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