The Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled this season with offensive production, and to be more specific, consistency from their deep scorers. Outside of the top forward line of Kirill Marchenko, Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov, the Blue Jackets haven’t found many goals, and the biggest struggles have been on the second line.
The top line is currently good for 64 points, I think Columbus is comfortable with that. However, the second line currently has a total of 35 points, which is well below expectations for that unit entering the season. The real shocker is that Kent Johnson has only registered six points in 28 games so far.
However, the problem is not only on the second line and their lack of production. This Blue Jackets team is behind schedule from last season’s production so far. Last season at this point, after 29 games, the Blue Jackets scored 97 goals, and at the same point this season they have only 90.
Where the score comes from
The biggest part of the problem early in the season was the inconsistency of linemates across the board for the team’s offensive structure. Now, however, we’ve seen the lines remain largely the same, with a few minor adjustments, and the boys are starting to settle into their roles.
The top line is producing well right now, and it’s not something the Blue Jackets plan to change. However, with the addition of Sean Monahan to the second line, the team and coach Dean Evason expected some juice from them.
The brightest spot in terms of depth The scoring for the Blue Jackets comes courtesy of the third line of Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood and Isac Lundestrom.
The third line has given them an offense they haven’t gotten from any other line outside the top line. Led by a pair of veterans from Coyle and Wood, the line plays an extremely smart form of physical hockey. Lundestrom has also been a key addition and infusion of forechecking.
Too often, it seems like they rely on the third line to keep them in games, while the second line, if they could find an offensive burst, could be the X-factor.
Attack creates opportunities, but needs more finishing
If you look at the expected goals for the model, or the expected offensive results, the Blue Jackets are consistently among the elite in the league. So why do they so often struggle to stack high-scoring performances?
A large piece of the puzzle has been completed offensively. The Blue Jackets have failed to score or put away goals at the top level this season, but the chances were there. I don’t think you have to discount this Blue Jackets team from the standpoint of not creating offense, but the production has to coincide with the opportunities created.
5v5 xGoals for 60 year olds – December 7 pic.twitter.com/v0e9MGLpUE
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 7, 2025
There are many instances where the Blue Jackets appear to overwhelm a team offensively and essentially bury them in their defensive zone. Unfortunately, more often than not, the Blue Jackets came out of these situations with chance after chance, but with no results on the scoreboard.
If the middle six forwards can find a way to produce more consistently, the Blue Jackets will be able to take a bigger step toward playing playoff hockey. Their production isn’t enough to put them over the top in a tight Metropolitan Division.
They are currently in last place in the division and have the worst goal difference of the eight teams: minus 9. The scoring needs to become more consistent and more consistent from the middle six forwards if the Columbus attack is to succeed.
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