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| CAROLINA HURRICANES |
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20–7–3 (43 points) ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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7:00 P.M. – MONDAY, MAR. 22 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH |
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FOX SPORTS OHIO FOX SPORTS |
Are we witnessing the beginnings of another Blue Jackets run into the postseason?
To be fair, we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. But entering Monday's game at Nationwide Arena, Columbus–for the first time in months–finds itself sitting in one of the Central Division's four playoff spots. On the heels of back-to-back wins last week in Raleigh, the Blue Jackets have positioned themselves to make the next six weeks interesting...which isn't something that seemed likely 10 days ago.
The Blue Jackets have caught the Chicago Blackhawks, as wild as that is to process. As inconsistent and (at times) awful their game has been, they've managed to hang around. And the longer they hang around, the more realistic it is that they could make their way into the Stanley Cup tournament. One thing at a time, one day at a time; they'll have to make another dent in the Carolina Hurricanes as the tail end of this four-game series gets underway tonight at Nationwide Arena.
Perhaps most encouraging for John Tortorella's team is the resurgence of Seth Jones, who had three goals in the two games at PNC Arena after a drought that dated back to mid-February. He was their best player Saturday, and it must continue. The Hurricanes are challenging for the top spot in the division and will come as ready to play as the Blue Jackets are in this two-game set in Columbus. Buckle up, folks.
Here's a look at tonight's projected (and subject to change) lines for Columbus:
Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lines
| LW | C | RW | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Max Domi | 96 | Jack Roslovic | 13 | Cam Atkinson |
| 11 | Kevin Stenlund | 71 | Nick Foligno | 29 | Patrik Laine |
| 38 | Boone Jenner | 20 | Riley Nash | 28 | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| 50 | Eric Robinson | 49 | Ryan MacInnis | 23 | Stefan Matteau |
*lines are subject to change
| LD | RD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Zach Werenski | 3 | Seth Jones |
| 44 | Vladislav Gavrikov | 58 | David Savard |
| 46 | Dean Kukan | 15 | Michael Del Zotto |
| Goalie | Backup | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Joonas Korpisalo | 90 | Elvis Merzlikins |
Storylines
- KEEP THE BALL ROLLING: The Blue Jackets can't afford a night off tonight. They've climbed their way back into the playoff picture, and need to continue banking points. It sure feels like they're treating this series against the Hurricanes like a playoff series, and so far, they've played like it. Their composure, structure, and consistency throughout the two games is a reminder of what they look like when they're at their best.
- FIND OLLIE MORE MINUTES: Oliver Bjorkstrand is one of the Blue Jackets' top offensive threats, but it's helping no one if he's seeing between 15-17 minutes of ice time per game. He scored the tying goal in the third period Saturday, and added the game-winning goal in the shootout, despite being down the list of forwards in terms of TOI. Let's not complicate this: get your best players on the ice as often as possible and trust them to make a difference.
- DIFFERENCE MAKERS: Goaltending hasn't always been the Blue Jackets' most stable position this season, but as they've run off a five-game points streak (3-0-2), Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzilkins have been rock solid. Merzlikins robbed Martin Necas in OT and slammed the door in the shootout, while Korpisalo's game has shown signs of life in the last couple of weeks as well. If both guys are playing well and pushing each other, it's only good news for the Blue Jackets.
