Columbus Blue Jackets (54 pts) vs. Ottawa Senators (56 pts) Game Preview
The last time these two teams met in Ottawa, the Jackets were stomped by the Sens, badly. Daniil Tarasov was in net that night and just so happens, it was his last bad start.
Fast forward a month and Tarasov has been playing lights out. The results might not be there, but he is playing great and that's what everyone wants to see, win or lose.
The Ottawa Senators are finally catching up to the pack in terms of games played, which means they're drawing closer to the Jackets in points % as well. The Sens are 3-6-1 in their last 10 but have lost 7 of 8. They won their last game but dropped the previous 7 in a row. Former Jacket Joonas Korpisalo has started the last three games for the Senators. Joonas Korpisalo, Anton Forsberg, and Mads Sogaard have all been a terrible disappointment for Ottawa this season.
The Senators are currently 8th in the Atlantic Division, 15th in the East, and 28th in the NHL.
Series History vs. The Senators
- Columbus is 11-7-2 at NWA all-time and 18-18-4 in all meetings.
- The Jackets are 9-4-2 in the last 15 games.
- The CBJ are also 7-1-1 in the last 9 at NWA.
Who To Watch For The Senators
- Claude Giroux has 54 points in 63 games this season and has a total of 39 points in 39 games against the Jackets.
- Tim Stutzle has 15 goals and 59 points this season.
- Brady Tkachuk has 27 goals and 52 points on the year.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Senators
- Johnny Gaudreau has 26 points in 28 games.
- Zach Werenski has 15 points in 15 games.
- Ivan Provorov has 10 points in 20 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 (16 games)
- Kent Johnson (shoulder injury on Feb. 28); out indefinitely (7 games)
- Justin Danforth (concussion); (2 games)
- Kirill Marchenko (illness); is day-to-day (1 game)
- Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body injury on Mar. 12); is day-to-day
- Sean Kuraly (lower-body injury on Mar. 12); is week-to-week
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 208
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 105.7 FM 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.