The Columbus Blue Jackets are actually good.

It’s hard to think of the Jackets as one of the elite eastern conference teams after years of them being a middle-of-the-road club, but it’s a phrase we’re likely going to have to get used to. Two seasons ago the club was following up a fairly strong playoff season with a sup-.500 2015-16 campaign that ended up getting Todd Richards fired and saw John Tortorella being brought in to right the ship.

And say what you want about Torts, he certainly has helped make Columbus a winner. 50 wins last season and off to a strong start again this season.

The Jets are going to have their hands full tonight as they try to go for a fourth win in a row, but this game should prove as a good indication on whether or not the Jets themselves are actually good.

In case you haven’t noticed, the Jets have managed to put together a tidy little three game win streak which they accomplished this past Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 2-1 win. The last time the Jets had a three game win streak within the first five games played of the season was back in the 2012-13 season, although thanks to the lockout it didn’t actually happen until Janurary 27.

CBJ has picked up where they left off last season’s 50 win campaign. They have won their last three games in a row and four of the first five they’ve played this season. They rallied from a two goal deficit in the 3rd period on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild to tie things up and then win the game 47 seconds into overtime thanks to an Alex Wennberg goal.

The Jets and Jackets split the two game season series last year, Columbus picked up a 5-3 win in Winnipeg on December 2016. The Jets picked up their win over Columbus with a 5-4 decision back in April near the end of their season losing seven game win streak.