Scouting Report: The Blue Jackets Look To Run Their Win Streak To Four Games Tonight in Winnipeg

Columbus Blue Jackets (4–1–0) at Winnipeg Jets (3–2–0)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017, 8 p.m. (Bell MTS Place)

The Blue Jackets come into this matchup pretty hot, having won their last three games, but the Jets can boast the same. After getting blown out in their first two games – and getting out-scored by a margin of 13-5 – they've been formidable. They took down the Oilers and Canucks on the road last week and the Carolina Hurricanes at home on Saturday.

The Jets have quite a bit of star power, built on skill and size. There's Dustin Byfuglien, the 6-foot-5, 260 pound rearguard who's one of the hardest hitters in the league, and no slouch in the offensive zone, either. Patrik Laine, also 6-foot-5, sniped 36 goals in his rookie season. Their captain, Blake Wheeler – also 6-foot-5, you guessed it! – has been nearly a point-per-game player for a while now, with 392 points in his last 458 games. Mark Scheifele is one of the game's most gifted playmakers at center, and forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Bryan Little and recently recalled Kyle Connor also highlight a lethal forward group.

The expected starters in net are Sergei Bobrovsky and our old friend Steve Mason.

You Oughta Know: Nikolaj Ehlers

Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele may get the notoriety, but it's actually Nikolaj Ehlers who's leading the Jets in points with a 5-2–7 line through five games. This comes on the back of a breakout season in which the Denmark native posted 64 points, for which he was rewarded with a seven-year, $42 million extension.

If you're the type to keep tabs on Blue Jackets prospects, Ehlers may be familiar. Back in 2015, he and Oliver Bjorkstrand powered the Danish team at World Juniors. 

Five Fast Facts

• Marko Dano is expected to suit up for the Jets in this game, albeit on the fourth line. Since being shipped out in the Brandon Saad trade – and then sent from Chicago to Winnipeg in the Andrew Ladd trade – things haven't gone as expected for the young Slovak. Injuries have prevented Dano from recapturing the form he showed as a rookie in Columbus, as he's put up just 20 points in 72 games since the trade. That's one fewer than his 35-game total from his time with the Blue Jackets.
• Another name Blue Jackets fans know well (Mason) will be in net. Columbus fans know too well that he has a tendency to either be lights-out or get lit up, and so far it's been the latter; in two games, Mason has let in 11 goals, posting just a .831 save percentage.
• Mason's expected to start over Connor Hellebuyck, who's been impressive so far for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck hasn't lost in three starts and has a strong .937 save percentage this season, but gets the night off tonight.
• Former Michigan standout Kyle Connor was called up yesterday and is expected to join a line with Laine and Little, rounding out a deadly top six.
• These two teams will face off just twice this season, with the second time coming 10 days from now at Nationwide Arena. 

Previous Matchups

THIS YEAR: First meeting (of two)

LAST MEETING: Winnipeg won 5-4 at Nationwide Arena (Apr. 6, 2017)

Keys to the Game

ONE: Shut down the top two lines. We all know what Laine can do in space, but Ehlers, Scheifele, Little and Wheeler are all dynamic scorers in their own right. Aside from Ehlers, that top six won't bring much speed, but their size and scoring ability makes them a tough draw for any team. 

TWO: Dominate Winnipeg's bottom-six. There's a lot of talent at the top of those forward lines, but beyond those slots, there's been very little production. Dano, Shawn Matthias, Joel Armia, and Nic Petan have combined for zero points. 

THREE: Get on Mason early and often. The Jets have lost each of his first two starts, getting hit hard in both games, and the Blue Jackets have more than enough offensive talent to replicate that tonight.

Team Projected Lineup

Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube