Game 25 Preview: Blue Jackets head to Big D to face Stars

Tuesday, March 4, 2021 – 8:30 EST
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Defending Big D

Looking to build off Tuesday’s win against the Red Wings, the Columbus Blue Jackets are in Dallas tonight for the start of their two-game series with the Dallas Stars.

Player to Watch

Cam Atkinson

Cam Atkinson has been red-hot for Columbus, scoring yet another short-handed goal on Tuesday. The short-handed king has four this season — leads the league — already tying his career-high in 2018-19. His 16 career shorty’s are the most in Blue Jackets history, as he surpassed Rick Nash’s 14 earlier this season. Atkinson had eight goals in February which tied him for fourth in the league.

Jack Roslovic seemed to be the central figure to get Atkinson going and Elpalito coming back to The Cannon seemed to keep the hot-streak streaking. Atkinson leads the Jackets with 10 goals and 19 points.

Jackets Notes

The Blue Jackets will have up to 4,500 fans or so back at Nationwide Arena moving forward for home games. … Zac Dalpe, who was previously no. 29 prior to Patrik Laine’s acquisition, will be no. 26. … Columbus has dominated their matchups against the Stars going 14-3-1 since 2012-13 and winning nine of the last 10 overall, and six of the last seven in Dallas. … Some extra notes per Jeff Svoboda include: Jack Roslovic is expected to play in game no. 198 of his NHL career tonight. … Tonight would be Max Domi’s 400th career NHL game. Domi has played in 292 consecutive games which is the seventh-longest active streak in the NHL. … Columbus has the first goal in 17 of 24 games which is a league high, but the team is only 7-6-4 when scoring first. … Seeds mentioned how good Seth Jones has been on the latest edition of The Cannon Cast and Jones is tied for first with 11 assists among defenseman since Feb. 1. He’s tied for second with 12 points in that span, and among all players in that span, his 11 assists ties for fifth. … Gustav Nyquist and Elvis Merzlikins have been on the ice skating and practicing as they recover from injuries.

Judging by the amount of chirps, the boys are happy to have Gus out there today. Riley Nash even pushed him into the center of the pre-practice stretch. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/5ansHirTEM

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 3, 2021

The Other Bench

Joe Pavelski torched the Blue Jackets for five points (two goals, three assists) in the first of two February games the clubs split back at Nationwide Arena. In that second game, Pavelski had just one assist. Pavelski had five goals, five assists in each of January and February.

The Stars are technically in last place in the Central Division but they’ve had a number of games postponed due to Covid protocols. By points percentage, the Stars are just behind the Blue Jackets. Dallas enters play on a three-game skid and are just 1-6-3 in their last 10. We know the Stars have a powerful offense but they’re coming off back-to-back shutout losses to the Lightning, being outscored 7-0 in two games.

Dallas is without Ben Bishop (knee), Stephen Johns (concussion), Alexander Radulov (lower body), Taylor Seguin (hip).

ICYMI, had this yesterday from pro sports docs:

“I don’t think this is a good idea. I think that you are limiting the athlete’s ability to rest and recover after a physically demanding game, such as hockey, and a decreased level of performance.”https://t.co/u0nMeyakmW

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) March 2, 2021

Season Series

02/02/21 DAL 6 @ CBJ 3
02/04/21 DAL 3 @ CBJ 4
03/04/21 CBJ @ DAL
03/06/21 CBJ @ DAL
03/13/21 DAL @ CBJ
03/14/21 DAL @ CBJ
04/15/21 CBJ @ DAL
04/17/21 CBJ @ DAL

Stats

Projected Lineups