Game #27 Preview: Will Panthers inflict pain for a second time this week?

Thursday, March 11, 2021 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Litter Box Cats

Florida Panthers (16-5-4, 36 points, 3rd Central)

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Columbus Blue Jackets (10-12-5, 25 points, 5th Central)

The Panthers are coming off a big win on Tuesday night in Nationwide Arena, where the argument COULD be made (though I won’t be the one making it) that the Jackets deserved to win the game, based on the number of quality chances they had on goal and the fact that Sergei Bobrovsky was playing outside of his mind in his old familiar stomping grounds.

That being said…

Player to Watch

Sergei Bobrovsky

Bob is now 9-2-2 in starts this season, which is pretty decent for someone who can’t be considered a spring chicken! He and Joonas Korpisalo both had fabulous games with several saves apiece that bent the laws of physics, but Bob certainly came out on top as far as saving what counted – and he also had an offensive unit to do the rest of his job for him.

My favorite-and-also-least-favorite two moments of Tuesday night’s game both involved Bob – one was Nick Foligno’s wide-open missed shot on net and the look on Cam’s face afterwards, and second was Cam’s 1-on-1 showdown with Bob that Bob successfully denied.

If Bob brings his A-game again tonight, the Blue Jackets might not stand a chance!

Jackets Notes

Elvis Merzlikins is starting in net! Exciting stuff. Perhaps his presence will create the change in atmosphere the Jackets need to win.

Here are some of Torts’ thoughts from Tuesday’s game:

#CBJ coach John Tortorella was plenty irritated today. Pleased, of course, by the scoring chances the Blue Jackets created in Tuesday’s loss to #FlaPanthers. Not so much by the way they defended.

Warning: this quote is mildly NSFW. pic.twitter.com/5erP42vFYL

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 10, 2021

The Other Bench

Bob is starting in net again, according to the Litter Box Cats – here is their assessment: “Florida can see how vulnerable the Blue Jackets are and will pounce on them early.”

Where’s the lie? Hope we can prove them wrong.

Season Series

01/26/2021 FLA 4 @ CBJ 3 (SO)
01/28/2021 FLA 2 @ CBJ 3 (SO)
03/09/2021 FLA 4 @ CBJ 2
03/11/2021 FLA @ CBJ
04/03/2021 CBJ @ FLA
04/04/2021 CBJ @ FLA
04/19/2021 CBJ @ FLA
04/20/2021 CBJ @ FLA

Stats

Projected Lineups