Western Canada, who needs it? That has to be the thought process for the Blue Jackets as they struggle during their road trip. Now as they are even further out of the playoff race, they can't have any excuses. They need to start acting
The Canucks are way out of the playoff race, and they will be playing a less than stellar team. This should mean a win for the Blue Jackets. That isn't guaranteed though. They need to begin showing some semblance of teamwork for it to happen.
It feels like panic mode has been engaged for the past month for the Blue Jackets. That doesn't change against the Canucks, but it does feel like they are at the very peak of the panic. Win and the panic dissipates some. Lose, and the amount of hot takes about this team will be volcanic.
Here's our game preview:
FORWARDS
Panarin - Dubois - Atkinson
Dzingel - Duchene - Anderson
Nash - Jenner - Sedlak
Dubinsky - Wennberg - Bjorkstrand
DEFENSEMEN
Werenski - Jones
Nutivaara - Savard
Harrington - McQuaid
GOALTENDERS
Bobrovsky/Korpisalo
STORYLINES
- The Blue Jackets' may have their Vezina winning goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky back. He is practicing at this point, and the Blue Jackets are going to need him if they are going to make the playoffs. The team can't score, and they will need to have a strong performance once again.
- What is the defense? The Blue Jackets haven't been out of this world bad defensively, but they also haven't been remarkable by any stretch. Their third pairing has been almost unusable. Their first pairing is being run into the ground. How do you manage a group like that? They have to start helping on the back end or the dreams of this season may already be gone.
- This is going to be another game with the Canucks where they have completely given up on this season. They are in full on rebuild mode. That was the case with the Edmonton Oilers, but the Blue Jackets fell to them. Are the Blue Jackets panicking too much or not enough? Either way, the blame is going to keep being spread until wins are found.
