Blue Jackets vs. Lightning Preview
The Blue Jackets take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, with the CBJ looking to break a four-game winless streak.
The Blue Jackets are coming off of a loss to the Dallas Stars in Dallas. The Jackets kept in close for 2+ periods but couldn't hold on as the Stars cranked up the talent in the third. The Jackets haven't won a game since October 21st in Minnesota against the Wild.
The Lightning are coming in after losing to the Seattle Kraken 4-3 in OT. Before that, the previous two games saw Tampa shut out the San Jose Sharks and Carolina Hurricanes. Tampa's record is 4-2-3.
Three Keys
- Limit Tampa's Powerplay Opportunities. The Lightning come in with the 3rd best PP in the NHL, running at 33.3%. Nick Paul and Nikita Kucherov have 3 powerplay goals each on the season. The Lightning pack plenty of scoring punch 5v5, but it's not a good idea to go down a skater against this dangerous team.
- SHOOOOOOT! The Lightning are giving up 35.7 shots a game, that's 2nd worst in the NHL. The Jackets are averaging 32.4, good enough for 11th. The Jackets not only need to pump as many shots as they can at Matt Tomkins, but they need to get quality shots. The Bolts are also giving up 3.11 goals a game, so there are goals to be had against them. The question is, who is going to step up and get pucks through?
- Kirill Marchenko Must Start Playing To His Ability. Marchenko was a healthy scratch in the last two games. And with only three assists on the season, it's safe to say he is going through the dreaded sophomore slump, and that has to end now. Kirill Marchenko is a goal scorer and could easily be the team leader, now he needs to put it together. Hopefully watching the game from a different perspective has helped him. Based on Wednesday's practice lines, he'll be on a line with fellow Russian Dmitri Voronkov, and that has to make those two very excited for this opportunity. Voronkov has two points in two games played and could use the help of Marchenko to communicate. If these two can click, it should be fun to watch.
Series History
- The Jackets are 9-11-3 at home vs. the Lightning in the regular season.
- The Blue Jackets are 1-7-1 in the last nine games against Tampa Bay.
- Columbus has been shut out six times in the all-time series.
Who to watch for Tampa Bay
- Noted Jacket Killer Brayden Point has 10 points on the season, but only two goals. He could find a way to bust out against the Jackets because that's what he does.
- Nick Paul has 5 goals and 7 points, including 3 PP goals. He's now centering Steven Stamkos and Conor Sheary, which could make Paul very dangerous.
- Goalie Matt Tomkins is starting for Tampa. This is only his second start this season. He lost his first game against Ottawa on October 15th. His GAA is 4.10 with a save % of .892. Tomkins played four years at The Ohio State University.
Roster Notes
- Kirill Marchenko should be back in the lineup tonight after missing the last two games due to being scratched. He'll be on a line with fellow Russian Dmitri Voronkov.
- Erik Gudbranson missed practice yesterday due to some foot soreness caused by blocking a shot. He did play in the last game, so there is no reason why he shouldn't play tonight.
- Elvis Merzlikins will start against Tampa. He's been good so far but will be tested often tonight against the high-powered Lightning.
- The Line of Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli, and Emil Bemstrom is going to be interesting to watch. Three players with much to prove, but Johnson needs to be the one who gets going soon. Fantilli has been the real deal, and Bemstrom has been scoring on the powerplay, should be fun.
- Mathieu Olivier will be scratched tonight. It was assumed he would be since Marchenko was coming back.
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 with his partner Jody Shelley. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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.