Time to move on.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were embarrassed in one of their biggest games of the season losing to the New York Islanders 3-0 on home ice. Tonight they look to get back on track as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks are one of the bottom feeders this season, ranking 22nd in the league with 57 points. They have had grave difficulty keeping the puck out of their net, allowing the most goals in the league. The Blue Jackets need a strong game here as they have another tough game coming up on Monday as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
PROJECTED LINES:
Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson
Duclair – Wennberg – Bjorkstrand
Foligno – Jenner – Anderson
Hannikainen – Sedlak – Nash
DEFENSEMEN:
Murray – Jones
Werenski – Savard
Harrington – Nutivaara
GOALTENDER:
Bobrovsky
Storylines
- The Blue Jackets had trouble scoring against the Islanders who have allowed the fewest goals in the league. They should have no trouble scoring against the Blackhawks who are the opposite of the Islanders having allowed the most goals in the league at 211.
- It’s only been three games but Artemi Panarin has not had success against his former team. In those three games he has just a single assist. Chicago is the only NHL team he hasn’t scored against. They are not just shutting him down they are actively taking advantage when he is on the ice. At 5 on 5 Panarin has been on the ice for just a single goal for and five against. Something is going on here and it will be interesting to see now that Joel Quenneville is no longer at the helm if this will continue.
- John Tortorella played Alexander Wennberg a ton last game. He put him on the top line between Panarin and Cam Atkinson. Wennberg’s play has been better of late, and Tortorella has rewarded him with more ice. Will this continue against the Blackhawks or will Tortorella revert to what’s worked before and put Pierre-Luc Dubois back on that top line?
