CBJ Gameday: Blue Jackets at Flyers

Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers
Saturday, April 8, 2017 – 12:30 EST
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Broad Street Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets, 49-23-8, 106 points, 3rd Metro, 3rd East
@
Philadelphia Flyers, 38-33-9, 85 points, 6th Metro, 11th East

Two games to go in the regular season, and the Blue Jackets are slumping in the record column. They’ve lost 5 in a row, by far their longest losing streak of the season. Ahead of the playoffs, they’re not getting the results fans would like to see. And yet, hope springs eternal. The team has won the corsi battle in each of the last 4 games, the last two in dominating fashion despite the losses that accompany them.

Yesterday, Torts hinted at rotating his defensemen in an effort to get players like Seth Jones, Jack Johnson, and David Savard some rest in advance of the playoff. Each of those guys will likely play huge minutes against the Penguins next week. Torts also noted that Zach Werenski is still day to day, and that Ryan Murray will likely not be ready for the start of the playoffs with his broken hand. Today also likely projects to be the last start of the regular season for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

To get back on track, the Blue Jackets travel to visit the Flyers looking for a sweep of the season series. With an early afternoon start time, anything is possible. Regardless of whether the team wins or loses today, I hope to see the offense continue to play a north and south game as they did in Thursday night’s loss, and for the defensive structure to shape up and help to protect the goaltender from seeing too many odd man rushes.

Go Jackets.

Season Series

1/8/17 PHI 1 @ CBJ 2 (OT)
3/13/17 CBJ 5 @ PHI 3
3/25/17 PHI 0 @ CBJ 1
4/8/17 CBJ @ PHI

Stats Matchup

Probable Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Philadelphia Flyers