Buckle up.
This is where the Blue Jackets can go one of two ways.
They can meet these (several) important divisional games head-on, gather some points and start climbing the ladder in the Metro. Or, they can lose a few in a row, get leap-frogged by a team that has a good week, and suddenly they're chasing – which is not where you want to be in today's world of three-point games.
When the Blue Jackets and Islanders get together at Barclays Center tonight, it will not only be a game between two teams only three points apart, but also an opportunity for Columbus to both improve its own standing and damage the opponent's. A win could put the Blue Jackets into third place and only a point back of second place with games in hand on Pittsburgh.
Anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves. This is a tough game against a team that's usually a problematic match-up for the Blue Jackets because of depth and speed. The Islanders have no trouble scoring, but they can be exposed defensively and that's where Columbus needs to do its damage.
MATCHUP:
Blue Jackets at New York Islanders
Barclays Center, 7:00 PM
TV: FOX Sports Ohio
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
- You think the Blue Jackets need this game? Well, the Islanders will have something to say about that. While Columbus sits precariously in the East's first wild card position, the Islanders are one point behind eighth-place Philadelphia but have two teams to jump. They've also lost two straight and were smoked by Toronto in their last outing. They'll be steaming.
- Cam Atkinson has looked like Cam Atkinson since returning from his foot injury. He's got points in each of the three games, and the scoring chances are starting to come. He loves playing in Brooklyn, where he'll have family and friends in attendance.
- Will Sergei Bobrovsky go back-to-back? John Tortorella wouldn't commit to a number of starts for Joonas Korpisalo down the stretch, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he goes with Bobrovsky against a divisional opponent in a huge game.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
ISLANDERS
25-22-5 / 8th in Metro Division
PP: 19.9% (15th) / PK: 73.9% (29th)
5v5 Corsi: 48.02% (25th)
BLUE JACKETS
27-20-4 / 4th in Metropolitan Division
PP: 14.0% (31st) / PK: 76.1% (27th)
5v5 Corsi: 50.82% (14th)
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