Game #22 Preview: Jackets v Predators, Part 5

Saturday, February 27, 2021 – 3:00 EST
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: On The Forecheck

Nashville Predators (8-11-0, 16 points, 7th Central)

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets (8-8-5, 21 points, 5th Central)

Well, here we are again, chums.  I gave serious consideration to simply cutting and pasting last week’s preview, but – on the off chance ya’ll read this – I’ll freshen things up.  Since last week’s loss to Nashville, Columbus has managed to squeeze a single point from the Chicago Blackhawks in two games.  On the other hand, Nashville picked up 2 points in two games from Detroit.

Unrelated sidenote – Detroit is apparently on a 0-40 power play skid.  I’m not sure I believe it, but I hope it’s true.

As has been mentioned, the Jackets remained predictably unpredictable or consistently inconsistent.  That depends on how empty your glass is.  After listening to our comments about the weak power play and non-existent offense, the team dropped 5 goals on Chicago, including  3 power play goals!  But they allowed 6.   So then, we groused about the defense – that terrible defense.  So the team bucked the trend and held Chicago to an anemic two goals.  Unfortunately, one of those puny goals was an empty netter, which tells you what happened to the Jackets offense.

Since the comments after the second Chicago game focused on Torts and the desire for his tenure to end, I must assume that Torts will instead fire Jarmo and install…oh, I don’t know…insert some out-of-touch retread GM’s name here.  Just know that the Jackets will do almost the opposite of what we ask for.

As for Nashville, they were bad last weekend.  I have to assume they are still bad.  I do have a concern, though.  The Jackets were supposed to get healthy and on a roll by beating the bad teams like Nashville and Chicago.  Why do I get the feeling that Nashville and Chicago are the ones getting healthy by beating Columbus?

Player to Watch

Veini Vehvilainen

VV was called up to ride the pine yesterday.  I will be observing him closely.  One week of watching CBJ hockey and I already feel like I know what to expect from everyone else.  VV is new.  He still has that new goalie smell.  I can see him and hope for the future.

Stuff about the other team

The Nashville Predators play a back to back this weekend.  Their next opponent is the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Season Series

01/14/21 CBJ @ NSH – loss
01/16/21 CBJ @ NSH – loss
02/18/21 NSH @ CBJ – VICTORY!
02/20/21 NSH @ CBJ – loss
02/27/21 CBJ @ NSH
02/28/21 CBJ @ NSH
05/03/21 NSH @ CBJ
05/05/21 NSH @ CBJ

Possible Lines – These mean nothing!

Stats – These also mean nothing