Game 5 Gamethread/Preview: Blue Jackets fighting against elimination, Lightning

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 12:00 EST
Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, Ontario
TV: Fox Sports Ohio & NBCSN; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Raw Charge

#2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets

Welcome to today’s noon Game 5 game thread.

Well it’s been a very tight series against the Lightning, with Game 2 being the only game in the series — a Blue Jackets victory — in which the final score was by more than one goal. Otherwise, Columbus has done all they can to contain the powerful and highly offensive Lightning, but lack of scoring, whether even-strength or on special teams, has primarily been the difference.

There were some hits in the series and fortunately for Columbus, the league is letting the Jackets ice their full roster.

The @NHLPlayerSafety clipped and reviewed hits by Dubois (boarding) on Killorn and Foligno on Sergachev from Game 4. But no hearing or supplemental discipline.

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) August 18, 2020

Player to Watch

Liam Foudy is an exciting young talent that needs to be unleashed. I mentioned it on yesterday’s podcast that this team has nothing to lose — besides the series — but let’s see the future! Let’s let the kids do their thing! So far in the playoffs, Foudy has two points (one goal, one assist).

Jackets Notes

The Blue Jackets penalty kill is perfect against the Lightning in this series so far (10-for-10). .. . For the first time in the series, the Jackets outshot the Lightning 29-22 in Game 4, while winning the face-offs battle 30-12. … During the regular season, Columbus was tops amongst the NHL with 20 one-goal victories; They’re 0-3 in this series. … Among goalies this playoffs with at least five games under their belt, Joonas Korpisalo is second in SV% (.953) and third in GAA (1.57). … Blue Jackets Insider Jeff Svoboda has some more on the finer details.

The Other Bench

Tampa Bay actually enters this game trailing the Blue Jackets in GF/GP which is a credit to the stingy Blue Jackets defense. … Both clubs are middle-of-the-pack but of course Tampa has scored just enough in the series to pin Columbus to the brink of elimination. … In Game 4, both teams had six HDCF and HDCA on 5v5 per Natural Stat Trick. … Tampa Bay has outscored Columbus just 9-8 so far in the series.

Season Series

02/10/20 TBL 2 @ CBJ 1 (OT)

08/11/2020 CBJ 2 vs. TBL 3 (5OT)
08/13/2020 CBJ 3 vs. TBL 1
08/15/2020 TBL 3 vs. CBJ 2
08/17/2020 TBL 2 vs. CBJ 1
08/19/2020 CBJ vs. TBL
08/21/2020 TBL vs. CBJ (if necessary)
08/22/2020 CBJ vs. TBL (if necessary)

Playoff Stats

Projected Lineups