"We're fighting for our playoff lives right now."
 |
| FLORIDA PANTHERS |
|
15–5–4 (34points) ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
|
|
|
7:00 P.M. – TUESDAY, MAR. 9 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH |
|
|
|
FOX SPORTS OHIO FOX SPORTS |
It's not what you want to hear from Columbus captain Nick Foligno when the Blue Jackets are still two games away from the halfway point of the season.
But it's better than admitting it's a lost cause, at least?
That fight will continue at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, when the Blue Jackets begin a four-game homestand with two against the Florida Panthers.
Foligno's sentiment, which followed the Blue Jackets 5-0 loss in Dallas on Saturday night, has plenty of merit: Columbus is on pace for just 54 points and a 7th place finish in the (Discover) Central Division. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks are currently paced to finish with the last playoff spot from the division, at 69 points.
Don't totally abandon hope yet; if the Blue Jackets can get four points against Florida, they'll boost their pace to 58 points, and if you pair that with two Chicago losses this week in Dallas, the Blackhawks would remain the projected 4th seed, but at a much more within reach 64 point. In other words, by Thursday, the Blue Jackets could turn a 15 point projected deficit into just six. A tough task, and one they'll need help on, but not impossible.
One number on the Blue Jackets side is 4,500, which is roughly the number of fans that will be inside Nationwide Arena for the game. Governor Mike DeWine signed an order last week that will allow for up to 25% capacity at indoor sporting events. Several Blue Jackets noted the difference in atmosphere with fans in the building for the first time in just over a year, and despite playing a well below-average Detroit team, there's little doubt that the 5th Line gave Columbus a much-needed confidence boost.
Another energy shot in the arm could do a lot of good, and the Blue Jackets should look to take advantage of a tired and stagnant Florida team. After coming out of the gates on an impressive 12-3-2 start, they have won just three of their last seven games. Tuesday night will be the 4th game in six days for the Panthers, and in their 3rd city. Additionally, all four games have had a different start time.
For Columbus, Elvis Merzlikins has been activated from the injured list. Two former Blue Jackets who are now with the Panthers, Anthony Duclair and Markus Nutivarra, have been sidelined with injuries but are on the road trip with Florida.
Here's a look at tonight's projected (and subject to change) lines for Columbus:
Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lines
| LW | C | RW | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Nick Foligno | 38 | Boone Jenner | 13 | Cam Atkinson |
| 29 | Patrik Laine | 96 | Jack Roslovic | 28 | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| 16 | Max Domi | 20 | Riley Nash | 52 | Emil Bemstrom |
| 50 | Eric Robinson | 42 | Alexandre Texier | 11 | Kevin Stenlund |
*lines are subject to change
| LD | RD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Zach Werenski | 3 | Seth Jones |
| 53 | Gabriel Carlsson | 58 | David Savard |
| 44 | Vladislav Gavrikov | 15 | Michael Del Zotto |
| Goalie | Backup | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Joonas Korpisalo | 90 | Elvis Merzlikins |
Storylines
- CAN'T GET ANY WORSE: ...right? The Blue Jackets looked inept on offense and passive on defense Saturday night in Dallas. How they respond, especially given Foligno's "fighting for our playoff lives" after the game, will be very telling.
- START FAST: The Panthers played in Nashville at Thursday night, then again Saturday afternoon. They then traveled to Raleigh for a Sunday evening game against Carolina, and are now in Columbus for a Tuesday game. There is no way they're not tired. Florida is going to try and weather the storm in the opening period; Columbus can't let them do that. Score a goal before the first television break.
- LAINE'S GONE COLD: In his last six games, Patrik Laine has no points, 13 shots, a -4 plus/minus rating, and 132 shifts that total up to 111 minutes and change of ice time. That's concerning. Laine can go cold sometimes, as all snipers do - he went seven straight without a goal in January of 2020. But he broke that slump with goals in four of his next five games. Head coach John Tortorella may have other ideas for the 22-year-old star, but right now, the focus needs to be on ending a nearly two-hour goalless streak.
