Columbus Blue Jackets (58 pts) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (72 pts) Game Preview
Columbus will play against the Penguins tonight in an arena that can only be described as a torture chamber.
The Blue Jackets have lost 14 straight dating back to December of 2015. Yes, you read that right, 2015. Many don't expect these next two games to go any differently.
Pittsburgh is 3-5-2 in their last 10 and 4-8-2 in March. But fortunately for the Pens, their next two games are against Columbus, and have a chance to add a couple more wins to their record. With the Penguins only nine points out of the playoffs, one could only assume that Pittsburgh will come out with their hair on fire and try to pummel the Jackets. They need every point they can get and Sidney Crosby will do his best to get them.
The Blue Jackets, however, have a chance to finish off the Pens and destroy any hope they have of making the playoffs. But they're going to have to do it with 6 AHLers in the lineup.
The Penguins are currently 7th in the Metro Division, 13th in the East, and 23rd in the NHL.
Series History vs. The Penguins
- Columbus is 4-17-5 all-time playing in Pittsburgh, and 15-28-9 in all meetings.
- The Jackets are 1-2-1 in the last 4 games.
- The Blue Jackets are 0-9-5 in the last 14 games at PPG Paints Arena.
Who To Watch For The Penguins
- Sidney Crosby has 76 points this season. He also has 57 points in 40 games against the CBJ in his career.
- Evgeni Malkin has 53 points so far this season. Malkin has 45 points in 36 games against the Blue Jackets.
- Erik Karlsson has 27 points in 26 games against the Jackets in his career.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Penguins
- Johnny Gaudreau has 15 points in 20 games.
- Zach Werenski has 8 points in 16 games.
Injuries
- Patrik Laine (clavicle fracture-Dec. 14; NHL Player Assistance Program-Jan. 28); 17 games (for injury)
- Adam Fantilli (calf laceration on Jan. 28); expected to miss 8 weeks (23 games)
- Kent Johnson (shoulder injury on Feb. 28); out the rest of the season (14 games)
- Justin Danforth (concussion on Mar. 7); out indefinitely (9 games)
- Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body injury on Mar. 12); is day-to-day (7 games)
- Sean Kuraly (lower-body injury on Mar. 12); is week-to-week (7 games)
- Adam Boqvist (upper-body injury on Mar. 14); out indefinitely (6 games)
- Alex Nylander (upper-body injury on Mar. 23); is day-to-day (1 game)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 250
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on Bally Sports Ohio. As always, the legendary Jeff Rimer will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
More From THN Columbus
Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.