SvoNotes: We've seen this movie before, and it turned out all right

SvoNotes is a weekly column posted by BlueJackets.com reporter Jeff Svoboda. It will run each Wednesday during the season.
If this feels familiar, it should.
Three seasons ago, it felt like the Blue Jackets couldn't get through a game without a huge part of the lineup getting injured.

It started in December when Columbus was trying to find its footing in its transition season after the departures of Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky and Matt Duchene. With Columbus struggling, Josh Anderson and Ryan Murray each went down in the middle part of the month, then Columbus lost Cam Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Alexandre Texier by the end of December.
Alexander Wennberg was added to the list in early February, but as the month went on, the biggest blows were to come. Seth Jones suffered a broken ankle on Feb. 8, then the red-hot Bjorkstrand fell victim to the same issue Feb. 20.
But a funny thing happened as names like Nathan Gerbe, Kevin Stenlund and Stefan Matteau, just to name a few, became key pieces of the lineup -- the Blue Jackets won.
Columbus went through a remarkable stretch from Dec. 9 through Feb. 7 that included just two regulation losses. The team's 19-2-5 record in that two-month span helped the team overcome a 11-14-4 start and climb back into the playoff race.
Unfortunately, the injury to Jones was a blow that looked to be too much to recover from, as Columbus went 3-6-6 without the No. 1 defenseman and was on the outside looking in when it came to the playoff race when the season was paused in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But for the Blue Jackets players who remain, the current run of injuries that has forwards Patrik Laine, Jakub Voracek and Justin Danforth as well as defensemen Zach Werenski, Adam Boqvist and Nick Blankenburg on the shelf -- and Jake Bean, Elvis Merzlikins and Emil Bemstrom get dinged up Tuesday -- brings back memories of the time Columbus circled the wagons and impressed
"I remember being in this spot (three) seasons ago," Gavrikov said. "We called up like 10 players from Cleveland, but we won a lot of games. I am sure we can do it together and we will do that together."
Looking back, it's a bit fascinating to see how much things have changed from a roster standpoint for the Jackets, as a number of the key pieces from that time have moved on. Captain Boone Jenner and assistant captain Gus Nyquist remain, but the only other regulars who are still in the lineup are Gavrikov, Werenski (who is out now), Bemstrom and Eric Robinson as well as goalies Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo.
Andrew Peeke and Liam Foudy were also on that squad, but they were in a similar situation as Bemstrom, who was a rookie at the time. Peeke got his first crack at the NHL as that season went on and played 22 games, while Foudy was so impressive as a rookie that the Blue Jackets shuttled him back and forth with London of the OHL twice just to get him in the lineup.
For Peeke, who is now a regular member of the CBJ defense and on the top pair in fact with all the injuries, it's been interesting to see the process from both sides.
"That was my first taste of it here," Peeke said. "You could see the commitment to win was at such a high. When I made my debut there were so many guys out. For me to experience that right away, that was really cool. You learn a lot from those moments."
So, can the Blue Jackets defy the odds and do it again? There's something to be said for what can happen when a team bonds together through adversity.
"Sometimes these things jell you together," head coach Brad Larsen said. "You get banged up and everybody leaves you for dead, except for the guys in the room that believe. They want to play. There's guys here that are excited to play. I'll tell you right now, they see what is in front of them. Someone has to take those minutes, so it can pull a group together. It's going to be a challenge, no question, but you gotta meet it head on."
So far, the Blue Jackets have made the most of the situation, going on the road to earn a point against the New York Islanders before earning a victory last night at home vs. Philadelphia.
We've seen Bemstrom move up to the first line, Marcus Bjork become the first CBJ blueliner to score in his NHL debut, Yegor Chinakhov set up yet another overtime winner and Jake Christiansen average 18:32 minutes per game. There are opportunities galore, and Peeke had some advice for the players who are stepping in.
"You are going to have all the emotions," Peeke said. "You're gonna be nervous, excited, anxious. There's gonna be everything going on in your head, but you're here for a reason. Play to your strengths. Systems are systems, and you're going to have to obviously learn those, but play to your strengths that got you here."
Two games in, so far, so good.

Connections Galore

One of the cool things about the influx of youngsters into the CBJ team comes on the personal side.
It's tough to see someone like Werenski go down for the season, as he's become a true leader on the team and one of the most respected voices among both the players and media who cover the squad.
So I don't want to minimize that, but on the other side of the coin, it's also fun to see someone like Christiansen, a kid looking for his big break, and Bjork, who left his family behind in Europe to chase his dream, step in and get an opportunity as well.
Christiansen was one of the last players on the ice after practice Monday, fooling around on the OhioHealth Ice Haus surface with Kent Johnson (who is often one of the last players on the ice each day at practice). The two both hail from the Vancouver area and have become good friends, making Johnson perhaps the most excited member of the Blue Jackets when Christiansen was recalled last week.
"Kent is one of my best buddies from back home," Christiansen said. "When I told him I was coming up, he was pumped. I met him as soon as I got to the hotel. It's nice to have a familiar face."
It also helped Christiansen that he was far from the only member of the Cleveland Monsters to be promoted at the same time. The injuries to Werenski, Blankenburg and Erik Gudbranson suffered last week against Philadelphia meant Christiansen, Bjork and Gavin Bayreuther all came up at the same time. It was an easy transition for Christiansen and Bjork, who roomed together on the road in Cleveland then did the same with Columbus when they arrived on Long Island for Saturday's game vs. New York.
"Of course," Bjork said when asked if it was nice to have the band stay together. "We have a good time in Cleveland, too. They're funny guys, and we like to hang with each other and go for dinner and stuff like that, so it's fun."
For Bjork, the experience of making his NHL debut was extra special because his father, Thomas, and girlfriend, Amanda, were able to make the trip from Sweden for the game. They arrived in the afternoon before the game -- it certainly helped the Blue Jackets were playing in an international airport hub -- and were left in shock and excitement with Bjork scored in the third period.
The two had to head back to Sweden, but Bjork said Amanda will return in the coming weeks to watch him play.
"It was very fun to see them," Bjork said. "I'm happy they could make it."

Gavrikov Shines

OK, mea culpa -- in this space, we love Vladislav Gavrikov. Not only is the Blue Jackets defenseman a heck of a player, he's one of the guys you can't help but root for thanks to his easygoing manner and prolific sense of humor.
Which is why it's been so fun to see the Russian defenseman notch the first two overtime goals of the season for the Blue Jackets. Gavrikov drove home a cross-ice feed from countryman Yegor Chinakhov to provide the first win of the season Oct. 16 vs. Vancouver then did the exact same thing last night, putting Chinakhov's pass behind Carter Hart to give the Jackets the victory over the Flyers.
Gavrikov has been lauded for his defensive skills over the years, but is he suddenly Mr. Overtime now?

"Kinda," he said after the game. "Same spot. Chinny found me again. That was kind of different because it was a 3-on-1. I just was ready. I didn't know exactly what he was going to do. I had only one option -- if I would get the puck, I would have to shoot. I was ready just for the shot either way."
And for the second time this year in the same situation, Gavrikov delivered. While he's been noted for defense over the years, drawing comparisons to an octopus from the coaching staff because of the way he can slow opposing players down when he gets his tentacles on them, Gavrikov has shown underrated offensive ability in his CBJ tenure. A season ago, he tied his career high with five goals and added a career-best 28 assists for 33 points.
But until now, he's not been viewed as the type to throw over the boards all that often in overtime. In previous seasons, Seth Jones and Zach Werenski were the OT guys, as those names dot the CBJ historic register for scoring from the blue line while the two also were responsible in their own end.
Jones is now gone and Werenski is done for the season with a shoulder injury, so when overtime began Tuesday night, there was Gavrikov to kick things off. And yet again, he got the job done.
"If it helps the team, I don't mind," he said of the increased opportunity in extra time. "If we are winning, I don't mind. Z was here, so it was usually Z and probably (Adam Boqvist) and (Jake Bean) as well. So yeah. Now we have some injuries, and it's an opportunity for each of us to step up and show our best game."