Game #14 Preview: Inconsistent Blue Jackets Meet Slumping Ducks

Sunday, November 4, 2018 – 9:00 PM EST
Honda Center, Anaheim, California
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Anaheim Calling

Columbus Blue Jackets, 7-6-0, 14 points, t-3rd Metro, t-8th East

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Anaheim Ducks, 5-6-3, 13 points, t-6th Pacific, t-12th West

The Blue Jackets wrap up this season’s California swing with a visit to Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks. Things started with a bang during Thursday’s 4-1 win at the Sharks before Saturday’s letdown, a 4-1 loss against the Kings at Staples Center, who entered in as the bottom feeders of the NHL.

Nick Foligno got into a fight with Dion Phaneuf, the first Blue Jackets fight of the season, and after the game emptied out the same rhetoric we have heard time and time again.

Nick Foligno shares his anger and frustration with the way Columbus is currently playing. The Captain wants to see more from the team on a more consistent basis. pic.twitter.com/7jE3t6Mreo

— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) November 4, 2018

A truthful sentiment but, at the same time feels like empty rhetoric at this point.

So tonight should be an interesting test against another club that has fallen on hard times to date. Anaheim has lost seven-consecutive games, falling to the Rangers on Thursday 3-2 in a shootout. Their last win came Oct. 17 against the Islanders.

Player to Watch

Nick Foligno has 13 career points (four goals, nine assists) against the Ducks across 16 games in his career. Ryan Getzlaf has 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists) in 36 career games against Columbus. Ryan Kesler has 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 35 career games against the Jackets. Speaking of Kesler, we know how much of an agitator he can be for opponents, and specifically, how Pierre-Luc Dubois stood out against the Ducks in a meeting between the teams last March in Anaheim.

Jackets Notes

Brandon Dubinsky returned to the lineup against the Kings Saturday night following his recovery from a partial oblique tear. … Dubinsky skated 19 shifts (10:44), had three hits, and was 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the face-off circle. … Dubinsky returning to the lineup meant Sonny Milano was sent down to Cleveland. … Tonight will mark Seth Jones’ 400th career NHL game. … Against the Kings Saturday night, the Blue Jackets powerless power play went 0-for-5, generating franchise infamy in giving up two short-handed goals on the same third period power play. … The Jackets are 0-for their last 14 chances with the man-advantage, and last scored a power play goal against the Blues Oct. 25 when they went 2-for-4. … After two-consecutive starts from Sergei Bobrovsky and with the second of tonight’s back-to-back, expect Joonas Korpisalo in goal against the Ducks.

The Other Bench

Despite the Ducks struggles this season, John Gibson (4-4-3, 2.39 GAA, .936 SV%) has done his part tending goal for Anaheim. In 11 starts this season, he has made at least 30 or more saves in nine starts, and has made at least 40 saves in five games already this season. He made a season-high 49 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss against the Sharks on Oct. 28, and a 41 save performance the game before that against the Stars.

That speaks to the Ducks surrendering a second-to-worst 37.8 shots per game to opponents, but they are tied-for-eigth best in the league in goals allowed (2.71).

The Ducks certainly miss Corey Perry, out five months after surgery to repair the meniscus and MCL in his right knee following an injury sustained during preseason. Anaheim only scores 2.36 goals a game, third-worst in the league.

Season Series

11/4/2018 CBJ @ ANA
12/15/2018 ANA @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups