Blue Jackets Road Notes: Fantilli's Faceoffs, Johnson's Shootouts
The Blue Jackets are preparing for their first road game and first back-to-back of the season in St. Louis. Adam Fantilli has won 80.4% of his faceoffs, and Kent Johnson's shootout ability is highlighted. The notes also include comments from Fantilli, Johnson, and head coach Rick Bowness.
Columbus enters St. Louis for its first road contest and initial back-to-back after a 3-2 shootout victory against Pittsburgh. In that game, Charlie Coyle’s unit matched Sidney Crosby’s line and produced strong all-around play, with Mathieu Olivier scoring. St. Louis dominated San Jose on Thursday but lost its home opener in overtime.
Adam Fantilli has won 45 of 56 draws, including 14 of 16 Friday, for 80.4%. He has scored in each of his first three games, averaged nearly four hits per game, and credited teammates Kent Johnson and Matthew Knies plus defensemen for help. He missed preseason but describes his conditioning as good. Kent Johnson’s prowess in shootouts also drew attention.
This update may shape how fans and youth players view faceoff preparation and shootout confidence, reinforcing that detailed scouting and teammate communication can matter as much as raw skill. For the Blue Jackets, early success could boost locker-room belief and coaching trust, while media coverage may draw more attention to specialized roles. Broader impact may remain modest, limited to hockey audiences and local community engagement.