The past week was night and day with the one prior for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who grabbed five points in three games after losing by five goals twice in the previous seven-day cycle.
They'll hope to keep the momentum going fresh off a three-day Christmas break this week. Here's the schedule.
Tonight: Always a Classic
Match-ups between the Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been some of the Metropolitan's most highly anticipated over the last two years. There is an inherent physicality to these games, and the two squads circle each other on the calendar.
Pierre-Luc Dubois's quote on Saturday indicated as much:
"It's gonna be a fun Christmas. I think we got three days off, I'm gonna spend it with my family, but always gonna have the 27th in the back of my mind."
The game will be broadcast by Fox Sports Ohio and ATT-P. Puck drops in Pittsburgh at 7.
Friday: A Slumping Senate
The Blue Jackets head to Canada for a game with the Ottawa Senators on Friday. The Senators have won just three of their last 18 games, good for placing them seventh in the Atlantic Division. Puck drops at 7:30 on Fox Sports Ohio.
Sunday: Lightning in a Bottle
Six points separate the Tampa Bay Lightning as the current leader for the Presidents Trophy. Three whole games. Even playing at home, this stands as a tough test for the Blue Jackets as Sergei Bobrovsky and company will have to limit the NHL's No. 1 scoring offense. The game gets an earlier start at 6, and will be broadcast by Fox Sports Ohio and Sun Sports.
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