Wednesday, May 5, 2021 – 7pm ET
Nationwide Arena – Columbus Ohio
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s blog: On The Forecheck
Nashville Predators (29-22-2, 60 points, 4th Central)
at
Columbus Blue Jackets (16-25-12, 44 points, 8th Central)
There’s only three games left in the regular season as the Columbus Blue Jackets are finally about to be done with the Nashville Predators. Emil Bemstrom was our player to watch for last game and he had the third period hat trick!
We’ll see if Columbus can get just their second win in eight tries against the Predators tonight.
Player to Watch
With three games to go take your pick. I want to keep seeing performances like from and that progression in the final week. Who’s back next season? Who’s playing with who? Lots of questions and these are the games to try to figure out some early questions.
Jackets Notes
Oliver Bjorkstrand’s next game is his 300th career game. … Tonight could be the night Cam Atkinson gets point No. 400 for his career (187 goals, 399 assists). … Jack Roslovic is closing in on 100 career points (36 goals, 63 assists). … John Tortorella’s 671 career wins is one behind Mike Keenan all-time (12th). … The Blue Jackets score a lot of goals first in games (31) which is fifth-most in the league. … Their penalty kill has been really good lately (89.3%) over the last 22 games (2nd).
The Other Bench
Nashville has won the season series and is closing in on a playoff spot with a four-point cushion above the Dallas Stars.
Season Series
01/14/2021 CBJ 1 @ NSH 3
01/16/2021 CBJ 2 @ NSH 5
02/18/2021 NSH 0 @ CBJ 3
02/20/2021 NSH 4 @ CBJ 2
02/27/2021 CBJ 1 @ NSH 2
02/28/2021 CBJ 1 @ NSH 3
05/03/2021 NSH 4 @ CBJ 3 OT
Stats
| Nashville | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.66 (21) | GPG | 2.32 (29) |
| 2.81 (15) | GAPG | 3.26 (24) |
| 17.9% (25) | PP% | 14.9% (27) |
| 75.0% (29) | PK% | 79.9% (15) |
| 49.8% (15) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 46.50% (28) |
| 50.5% (12) | 5v5 Unblocked shot attempt % | 47.0% (26) |
| 7.8 (19) | 5v5 Shot % | 7.0 (30) |
| .935 (2) | 5v5 Save % | .911 (26) |
| Mikael Granlund, 13 | G Leader | Oliver Bjorkstrand, 15 |
| Roman Josi, 25 | A Leader | Oliver Bjorkstrand, 24 |
| Roman Josi, 33 | P Leader | Oliver Bjorkstrand, 39 |
| Mathieu Olivier, 68 | PIM Leader | Max Domi, 73 |
| 13-12-2 | Home / Road | 9-8-8 |
| 6-3-1 | Last 10 | 1-5-4 |
Projected Lines
| Eric Robinson | Max Domi | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Mikhail Grigorenko | Jack Roslovic | Emil Bemstrom |
| Patrik Laine | Alexandre Texier | Cam Atkinson |
| Liam Foudy | Zac Dalpe | Nathan Gerbe |
| Michael Del Zotto | Seth Jones |
| Vladislav Gavrikov | Mikko Lehtonen |
| Gavin Bayreuther | Dean Kukan |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Matiss Kivlenieks |
| Filip Forsberg | Ryan Johansen | Eeli Tolvanen |
| Calle Jarnkrok | Mikael Granlund | Luke Kunin |
| Nick Cousins | Erik Haula | Matt Duchene |
| Yakov Trenin | Brad Richardson | Tanner Jeannot |
| Roman Josi | Ryan Ellis |
| Mattias Ekholm | Alexandre Carrier |
| Erik Gudbranson | Matt Benning |
| Juuse Saros |
| Pekka Rinne |