Columbus Blue Jackets (64 pts) vs. Florida Panthers (104 pts) Game Preview
The Jackets are in Sunrise, Florida to play the Panthers tonight, and they'll be looking for a win against the playoff-bound Cats.
Columbus will not be facing old foe Sergei Bobrovsky but instead will take on Anthony Stolarz and his .925 save %.
The Panthers come into this game having gone 4-4-2 in their last 10, and 2-3 in the last 5. They are trying to catch the Boston Bruins who are three points ahead of them with three games to play. They also have the Toronto Maple Leafs hot on their tail, who are three points back and have a game in hand.
The Panthers are currently 2nd in the Atlantic, 4th in the East, and 7th in the NHL.
Series History vs. The Panthers
- Columbus is 10-12-2 all-time vs. the Panthers in Florida, and 26-18-5 in all meetings.
- The Blue Jackets are 1-7-1 in the last 9 games in Florida.
- The Jackets are 0-1-1 this season against the Panthers.
Who To Watch For The Panthers
- Matthew Tkachuk has 15 points in 14 games vs. the CBJ.
- Sam Reinhart has 53 goals this season and 90 points on the season.
- Sergei Bobrovsky is 34-17-4 with 5 shutouts and a save % .913 He is starting vs. the Blue Jackets.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Panthers
- Johnny Gaudreau has 17 points in 19 games vs. the Panthers.
- Zach Werenski has 15 points in 21 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 (30 games)
- Kent Johnson (shoulder injury on Feb. 28); out the rest of the season (21 games)
- Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body injury on Mar. 12); is day-to-day (14 games)
- Adam Boqvist (upper-body injury on Mar. 14); out indefinitely (13 games)
- Elvis Merzlikins (lower-body injury on Mar. 30); is day-to-day (5 games)
- Jake Bean (broken hand on Apr. 4); out rest of season (3 games)
- Daniil Tarasov (upper-body injury on Apr. 4); is day-to-day (3 games)
- Alex Nylander (lower-body injury on Apr. 7); is day-to-day (1 game)
- Carson Meyer (upper-body injury on Apr. 9); is week-to-week
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 301
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.