Columbus Blue Jackets (58 pts) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (74 pts) Game Preview
The Blue Jackets and Penguins will go at it tonight at Nationwide Arena, but the night belongs to legendary play-by-play man Jeff Rimer.
Columbus will honor Rimer before the game tonight. Per Blue Jackets PR,
- The Blue Jackets will honor longtime broadcaster Jeff Rimer with a pregame ceremony on Saturday prior to the game against the Penguins.
- The club will recognize his six-decade career, which includes the past 41 years as the play-by-play voice of the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Blue Jackets.
- Rimer, who spent the past 20 years as the club’s TV play-by-play broadcaster, announced last fall he is retiring after the 2023-24 season.
- Rimer will call his 2,540th career game against the Penguins at Nationwide Arena.
Jeff Rimer is an absolute legend, and we salute you.
Series History vs. The Penguins
- Columbus is 11-11-4 at home vs. the Pens and 15-29-9 in all meetings.
- The Jackets are 1-9-2 in the last 12 against Pittsburgh.
Who To Watch For The Penguins
- Sidney Crosby has 59 points in 41 career games against CBJ. He also has 6 points in 3 games this season.
- Evgeni Malkin has 47 points in 37 career games against Columbus.
- Tristan Jarry is 19-24-5 with a save % of .903.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Penguins
- Johnny Gaudreau has 15 points in 21 games.
- Zach Werenski has 8 points in 17 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 (24 games)
- Kent Johnson (shoulder injury on Feb. 28); out the rest of the season (15 games)
- Justin Danforth (concussion on Mar. 7); out indefinitely (10 games)
- Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body injury on Mar. 12); is day-to-day (8 games)
- Sean Kuraly (lower-body injury on Mar. 12); is week-to-week (8 games)
- Adam Boqvist (upper-body injury on Mar. 14); out indefinitely (7 games)
- Alex Nylander (upper-body injury on Mar. 23); is day-to-day (2 games)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 257
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.