Major professional sports landed in Columbus for the first time as the Blue Jackets of the NHL made their debut. In their very first game at Nationwide Arena on October 7th, the Blue Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead against the Chicago Blackhawks, with Bruce Gardiner scoring the first goal in franchise history.

However, the sold-out crowd of 18,136 would go home disappointed after the Blackhawks scored five unanswered goals to win 5-3. The Jackets would get their first win five days later when they beat the Calgary Flames on the road 3-2.

Their first home win would not come until October 27th when they beat the Washington Capitals 3-1. The Blue Jackets would go on to finish in last place in the Central Division with a 28-39-9-6 record, as Geoff Sanderson led the team with 30 goals and 26 assists.

Despite the team's last-place finish goalie Ron Tugnutt would set a record for wins by a goalie on an expansion team with 22.