While the storyline of tonight’s game at Winnipeg will be the returns to Manitoba for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, the Blue Jackets’ bigger focus will be getting back on the right track after Tuesday’s 5-1 setback at Pittsburgh.
Columbus started the game with 20 good minutes, then watched Pittsburgh dominate the second period on the way to four goals in the middle frame.
The Blue Jackets have been pretty poised throughout most of the season and also been better about playing a full 60 minutes of late, but a team with a few Stanley Cups in the not-too-distant past hit the gas pedal and pulled away three nights ago.
“You’re playing a good team and take 20 minutes off, unfortunately it’s almost game over at that point,” CBJ center Sean Kuraly said. “We talked about some of the stuff we thought beat us tonight, so that was disappointing, but 20 minutes of a second period lull — maybe not even all 20 but a few there — that’s what beat us.”
And even with all the focus on such names as Laine and Roslovic, the Blue Jackets go into tonight with a common focus.
When asked what he expects tonight in his return to Winnipeg, Laine quickly replied, “For us to win.”
3 Keys to the Game
Match the desperation: Coming off a loss last night, Winnipeg enters the game in desperate need of wins to make the postseason. The Blue Jackets will have to match that intensity.
Laine’s back: The interest in the CBJ sniper’s return has been immense in Winnipeg, and what better way to celebrate for the winger than to show the fans the scoring ability that made him such a star with the Jets?
Special teams: Perhaps that goal can come on the power play, as the Jets’ penalty kill has struggled throughout much of the season.
Notable
Columbus ranks fourth in the NHL in goals per game since Jan. 27 (3.71). The team also is 14-8-2 (30 points) in that 23-game span, ranking tied for sixth in the NHL in wins and points. … Patrik Laine has a 19-14-33 line in the last 24 contests, plus 12 multipoint games in that span. His seven game-winning goals are tied for fourth in the NHL. … Zach Werenski has points in 13 of the last 16 games (4-12-16). … Oliver Bjorkstrand has a 10-9-19 line in the last 20 games and a 2-6-8 line in the last six games. … Gustav Nyquist has a 3-5-8 line in the last nine games and four shorthanded goals on the season, tied for first in the NHL. … Jakub Voracek has 31 primary assists on the season, tied for seventh in the NHL. … Emil Bemstrom is set to play in the 100th game of his NHL career (16-15-31, 99 GP). … The Blue Jackets have trailed in 21 of their 32 wins this year, tied for the most in the NHL and tied for the most in franchise history. Columbus also has eight wins when trailing after two periods, the most in the NHL and the second most in franchise history. … The Blue Jackets are 10-3 in overtime/shootouts, the NHL’s second-best win percentage in extra time at .769, just behind Dallas (.813). … Columbus won a 3-0 game against Winnipeg in Nationwide Arena on Nov. 24, with goals from Gregory Hoffman, Andrew Peeke and Werenski, while Merzlikins made 36 saves.
Projected Lineup
(Subject to change)
Gustav Nyquist – Jack Roslovic – Patrik Laine
Jakub Voracek – Cole Sillinger – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Eric Robinson – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth
Yegor Chinakhov – Brendan Gaunce – Emil Bemstrom
Zach Werenski – Andrew Peeke
Vladislav Gavrikov – Jake Bean
Dean Kukan – Adam Boqvist
Elvis Merzlikins (confirmed starter)
Jean-Francois Berube
Scratches: Gavin Bayreuther, Gabriel Carlsson
Injuries: Joonas Korpisalo (hip surgery, out for season); Boone Jenner (back, week to week); Daniil Tarasov (hip surgery, out for season); Alexandre Texier (indefinite leave of absence)
Roster Report: Boqvist makes his return after being out since Feb. 27, going in for Carlsson, while Merzlikins returns to the starter’s net for his 43rd start of the season.
This Day in CBJ History
March 25, 2003: Andrew Cassels scores an empty-net goal in overtime to give Columbus a 2-1 win at Los Angeles. With his team needing two points to stay in the playoff race, Kings coach Andy Murray pulled his goalie in extra time, but the Blue Jackets took advantage. Jean-Francois Labbe made 33 saves in one of just five games on the season not started by Marc Denis.
March 25, 2006: Trailing 3-0 entering the third period, the Blue Jackets rally for four goals in the span of 7:37 to take a 4-3 lead over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena and go on to win 5-4 in a shootout. Jaroslav Balastik posted the shootout-winning goal.
March 25, 2010: The Blue Jackets tie the franchise record for goals in a game in an 8-3 win over Chicago at Nationwide Arena. Kristian Huselius and Antoine Vermette each tallied twice in the victory while Jakub Voracek had three points.
March 25, 2017: Sergei Bobrovsky makes 36 saves in a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia at Nationwide Arena.