The Columbus Blue Jackets stumbled into their league-mandated bye week by dropping two consecutive games to basement dwelling teams.
Nearly a week away from hockey (and Columbus, for many) could be the refresher the club needs as they enter back into a crowded Metropolitan Division playoff race.
There's not a lot of reprieve - just one practice that took place on Wednesday - between the disappointing loss to the Vancouver Canucks and tonight's affair with Dallas.
MATCHUP:
Blue Jackets vs. Dallas Stars
Nationwide Arena, 7:00 PM
TV: FOX Sports Ohio
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
- Welcome, Jussi Jokinen: The Blue Jackets added a forward to their roster yesterday via the waiver wire. Jokinen, a 13-year veteran of the NHL, brings versatility and depth to a depleted Blue Jackets lineup. A Swiss army knife, the Finn is expected to make his Blue Jackets debut tonight and could play anywhere between the second and fourth line.
- Jack Johnson and David Savard, back together: John Tortorella played the two as a pair in practice on Wednesday and will give his veteran defensemen a chance to redeem themselves. Johnson had been demoted to the third pair and has reportedly requested a trade, but Tortorella insists that the reason for his recent promotion back to the second pair was because of Johnson's strong game against Vancouver and doesn't have anything to do with the trade request.
- Shooting Stars: Unlike the lowly Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks, the Dallas Stars are not coming into a game against the Blue Jackets limping through five-game winless streaks. Quite the contrary, the Stars are 7-3-0 in their past 10 games, and have already won two games this week (2-0-0). The Blue Jackets, coming off a bye week, will need to play to their fullest potential to hang with a team that is in a groove.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
STARS
26-17-3/WC1
PP: 20.3% (12th)/PK: 81.5% (15th)
5v5 Corsi: 51.98% (9th)
BLUE JACKETS
25-18-3/METRO3
PP: 13.5% (30th)/PK: 78.5% (24th)
5v5 Corsi: 51.45% (10th)
Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
