Game 3: The Blue Jackets Return Home to Continue Their Playoff Series with Pittsburgh

Columbus trails 2-0 heading home, but unlike the Blackhawks, at least the Jackets have scored a pair of goals. The Blue Jackets will try to use the energy from a home crowd at Nationwide Arena to get back in the series with a win.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 6 p.m., Nationwide Arena, Columbus TV: CNBC, FSO

THE STORYLINE

The numbers, simply put, aren't encouraging.

Around 13 percent of NHL teams to go down 2-0 to begin a seven-game series have come back to win. It's certainly not impossible, of course, but it's difficult, and Columbus finds itself nearing must-win mode heading into the first game of the series in Nationwide Arena.

Perhaps most frustrating has been the fact Columbus doesn't feel like it's playing bad hockey. The Blue Jackets just haven't been able to get key goals or saves at critical junctures.

"I think the law of averages, it will work itself out," captain Nick Foligno said. "You do that many good things in a game to only be able to score one goal, it's the way it goes sometimes in the playoffs. I think it allows ourselves to feel good about our game and know those goals are going to come, those bounces are going to come."

Things have reached the point that after Game 2, head coach John Tortorella made a rare trip to the team locker room. The head coach usually leaves it up to the players to set the tone, but with the team facing a 2-0 hole, Tortorella made an exception.

He didn't tell the Columbus media exactly what that message was on Saturday, but it's probably not hard to figure out what he had to say.

"I think it's constant communication as you go through a series, and on a number of different topics," he said. "When your'e down 2-0, a coach has to think about where they are. That's part of the conversation, but our guys are good. I just think they are looking forward to another opportunity. That's the way we have to look at this. This is another opportunity.

"I think it's been a pretty unique team all year long. This is an opportunity to put your best foot forward here. It's just one game we're talking about, Game 3. They'll be ready. We're good."

The return to Nationwide Arena will allow Columbus the first chance to play playoff hockey in the home barn for the first time since 2014 and just the third time ever. Tortorella expects the energy in the building will be a boon for his team.

"Coming home into our building, which I think is going to be an exciting building, as Pittsburgh was," he said. "That's a great building to play in. We're looking forward to playing in front of our people. For these guys, a number of them are just beginning to experience all this stuff here, it's just a fantastic opportunity. Not much has to be said. They'll be ready to go."

Foligno admitted that the team feels a slight bit of frustration, not at being down 2-0 but the fact the bounces simply haven't gone Columbus' way so far. There won't be many big changes going into the contest, with the Jackets hopeful that the same effort can lead to tallies on the board.

"We can't get away from what has made us successful," Foligno said. "I know that's a weird thing to say because we haven't been successful in the two games, but we've really taken the play to them and they've been opportunistic. You have to give them credit. They've scored goals when they needed to and they answered our goal last night right away. That was the difference in the hockey game, but we're not going to hang our hands on how we're playing because we're playing really good hockey. We just need some goals."

3 KEYS TO GAME 3

Better in the zone: Foligno acknowledged the team probably was a bit shot-happy in Game 2, trying to fire pucks on net to find rebounds but instead struggling to get shots through a collapsing Pittsburgh defense. Holding the puck and making the extra pass could lead to more scoring chances.

Get a lead: We used this one for Game 2 as well, but the reality is the Blue Jackets haven't led in this series and rarely led during the season-ending skid. A chance to play with the lead and earn some confidence might be just what the doctor ordered.

Good Bob needs to play: Bobrovsky has made some big saves but the first-period error that led to Pittsburgh's opening goal was the kind of thing that just can't happen, especially given the flying start Columbus had. The Blue Jackets need their best play to be the best player on the ice.

YOU OUGHTA KNOW

Columbus: Oliver Bjorkstrand is just 22 years old but the rookie has been one of the top drivers of offense for the Blue Jackets this series. He was on the ice for 16 shot attempts for and just one against in the opener, and he posted a 18-6 advantage in Game 2. The Maestro is yet to get on the board but seems to be getting close considering that strong possession advantage.  

Pittsburgh: Jake Guentzel scored the game-winning goal on a 2-on-1 with Sidney Crosby in Game 2, just the latest mark on the scoresheet for the high-scoring 22-year-old. After three standout seasons with Nebraska-Omaha in college, Guentzel turned pro and had 42 points in 33 games this year in the AHL. With Pittsburgh, he had 33 points in 40 regular-season games before earning his first NHL playoff tally vs. the Jackets in Game 2. Playing with Sidney Crosby is quite a way to start your NHL career, and Guentzel has taken full advantage.

THE SERIES

• Game 1 PIT 3, CBJ 1: Despite a first-period shots blitz, Columbus fell behind 3-0 on the way to losing the opener. Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist for the Pens, while Matt Calvert scored the lone goal for the Jackets in the third.
• Game 2 PIT 4, CBJ 1: A first-period error by Sergei Bobrovsky gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead and Guentzel answered Brandon Saad's equalizer in the second as Columbus fell into a 2-0 hole in the series.

THIS SEASON

• Dec. 22, 2016 CBJ 7, PIT 1: Scott Hartnell rings up a hat trick as the Blue Jackets explode for seven goals at Nationwide Arena for win 11 in the team's 16-game streak.
• Feb. 3, 2017 PIT 4, CBJ 3 (OT): The first meeting of the campaign in Pittsburgh ended with Phil Kessel's OT winner, but Columbus fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the third to tie it.
• Feb. 17, 2017 CBJ 2, PIT 1 (OT): Dubinsky (who else?) played the hero, sliding into the slot and scoring in OT to delight the Jackets' home crowd.
• April 5, 2017 PIT 4, CBJ 1: Columbus essentially ceded home ice in the first round with this loss as the Penguins never trailed on the way to the victory in the Steel City.

Penguins Projected Lineup

The Penguins have multiple goals from three lines thus far in the series. On the fourth, Tom Kuhnhackl appears ready to play despite a cross check from Matt Calvert late in Game 2.

Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Columbus will have to find a replacement for Matt Calvert, who has been suspended for a game for the cross check on Kuhnhackl. Whether any changes will be made on the blue line remains unclear, though the third pair has matched Gabriel Carlsson and Scott Harrington in back-to-back games.