Game 13 Preview/Gamethread: Super Sunday edition, Blue Jackets look to dodge and deke Hurricanes

Sunday, February 7, 2021 - 3:00 EST
Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Canes Country

Carolina Hurricanes (6-2-0, 12 points, 4th Central)

at

Columbus Blue Jackets (5-4-3, 13 points, 3rd Central)

It’s the big Super Sunday matchup between two teams in red we’ve all been waiting for! Both teams are looking at another year into the playoffs as the Columbus Blue Jackets play host to the Carolina Hurricanes for the first time this year.

Oh you thought I was talking about the Super Bowl?

While Columbus looks to expand off Thursday’s win over the Dallas Stars, the Hurricanes come in playing well (6-2-0) and trying to advance up the Central Division Standings. They come off a split series with the Chicago Blackhawks, losing 6-4 last time out on Thursday.

Player to Watch

Cam Atkinson

Cam Atkinson comes into play with 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 28 career games versus the Hurricanes. He scored the big goal on Thursday against Dallas for his second of the year (his 200th), and you hope to see him break out now. Get to the net and good things happen! Oliver Bjorkstand helped set up the nice feed and Atkinson did the rest!

Jackets Notes

Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) is on IR so I expect Joonas Korpisalo in the net tonight and possibly Matiss Kivlenieks in the net tomorrow night? ... Zach Werenski is out and that news actually dropped on Saturday. ... Nick Foligno is closing in on 200 career goals. He has 138 with the Blue Jackets and 61 with the Ottawa Senators. ... As a Blue Jacket, Seth Jones has 198 career points. ... A lot of people kinda dismissed Jack Roslovic’s addition to Columbus but he’s looked good so far with a three-game point streak (1-3—4) in five overall games for Columbus. ... The Jackets have had success against Carolina in recent history including winning all three games last season by a goal, and are 9-5-1 against the Hurricanes over the last four seasons (6-2-0 at home).

UPDATE:

The Other Bench

While most may have the Tampa Lightning winning the Central, the Hurricanes are definitely among those with division title aspirations. Currently getting along without Max McCormick (upper body) and goaltender Petr Mrazek (thumb), they’re middle of the pack in scoring (15th) while top 5 in goals allowed per game. The Hurricanes have been among the number of NHL teams to have games postponed and rescheduled as a result of Covid protocols.

In 12 career starts against the Blue Jackets, James Reimer is 2-8-2 (3.75 GAA, .888 SV%). Parma, Ohio native Alex Nedeljkovic, up from the taxi squad, has faced the Blue Jackets once in his career (Jan. 17, 2017) stopping all 17 shots faced in relief of a 4-1 loss at Nationwide Arena. He is 2-2-1 with six career games to his resume and has not appeared in a game this season.

Carolina’s power play is 13th but has been tamed the last couple of games. A 3-for-5 power play against the Stars last weekend shows what their firepower can produce.

(Has Columbus had three power play goals this season? Yes! (Four)).

Season Series

02/07/2021 CAR @ CBJ
02/08/2021 CAR @ CBJ
02/15/2021 CBJ @ CAR
03/18/2021 CBJ @ CAR
03/20/2021 CBJ @ CBJ
03/22/2021 CAR @ CBJ
03/25/2021 CAR @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups