The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators have yet to play this season, but Saturday will be game one of three games in 11 days between the two teams.
It seems like every game the CBJ plays right now is a proverbial "biggest game of the year," but in the case of tonight, it's 100% true.
The Blue Jackets are currently six points back of host Ottawa going into tonight's action. But after tonight, they will play each other two more times before April 9th, meaning that when either team wins, it will push one further from the other. If the Jackets could somehow sweep the three-game series, or at least get points in all three games, there's a "chance" that they could catch the Sens and push for wild card one.
But that, of course, means the Blue Jackets need to get points in the other 10 games left in the 24-25 season to make that a possibility.
Welcome to meaningful games played in March and April, fans. Having fun?
Senators Stats
- Power Play – 24.0% - 11th in NHL
- Penalty Kill – 77.3% - 319th in NHL
- Goals For - 207 – 20th – 2.92 GPG – 19th
- Goals Against – 204 – 10th – 2.87 GPG – 13th
Series History vs. The Senators
- Columbus is 7-11-2 on the road and 18-18-5 in 41 all-time meetings vs. Ottawa.
- The Jackets are 9-4-3 in the last 16 against the Sens and 2-1-1 in the last four.
- The Blue Jackets are 3-3-1 in the last 7 at Ottawa but have lost three straight.
Who To Watch For The Senators
- Brady Tkachuk leads the team with 29 goals.
- Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 50 assists and 71 points.
- Linus Ullmark is 20-13-3 with a SV% of .908. He started and won the last game for the Senators. He will start tonight.
CBJ Player Notes vs. Senators
- Boone Jenner has 12 points in 23 career games against Ottawa.
- Zach Werenski has 16 points in 16 games.
- Sean Monahan has 18 points in 28 games against the Senators.
Injuries
- Kevin Labanc (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve as of Feb. 21 and is out for the season (14 Games)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 303
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears 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.
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