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Game #63 Preview: New and Improved Jackets Get a Second Chance

Thursday, February 28, 2019 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Broad Street Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets (35-24-3, 73 points, 5th Metro, 9th East)

vs.

Philadelphia Flyers (30-26-7, 67 points, 6th Metro, 10th East)

Well, Tuesday night was a huge disappointment. We were all eager to see the reinforced Jackets roster continue their hot streak by finally beating the Penguins. Instead, an undermanned Pens lineup once again showed they still have the Jackets’ number. Tonight provides a chance to forget about that game and get back in the win column. Columbus has won all three meetings against Philadelphia this year, but the Flyers have been playing better lately and won’t be an easy opponent.

Player to Watch

Sean Couturier

The Flyers center had not scored more than 39 points in any of his first six seasons before exploding for 76  points last year, including 31 goals. This year, at age 26, he’s showing that it was no fluke, with 25 goals and 34 points already through 61 games.

He was selected with the 8th overall pick of the 2011 draft, which I’m sure was Philly’s own pick and not one they acquired from a trade that the other team would regret less than a year later.

Jackets Notes

Cam Atkinson has scored goals in three straight games. His goal on Tuesday was his 35th, which matches his goal total from last season. That is fourth most in franchise history. Rick Nash scored 38 goals in 2007-08, 40 goals in 2008-09, and a league-leading 41 goals in 2003-04 … Based on practice lines yesterday, it appears that Alex Wennberg may be scratched for the fourth straight game. I am not happy … In Monsters news, the Jackets yesterday signed forward Zac Dalpe to a two year, two way contract.

The Other Bench

Rookie phenom and Steve Mason 2.0 Carter Hart is out with an ankle injury … On trade deadline day, the Flyers traded fan favorite Wayne Simmonds. Broad Street Hockey gave thanks for his time there … Philly has won two in a row, including a 5-2 win over Buffalo on Tuesday … They had a thrilling OT victory over Pittsburgh in the Stadium Series on Saturday, but you don’t care about the game. You care about what America’s favorite mascot did:

First he dressed in lights and zip-lined from the top of the stadium:

Later, he got “ejected” for streaking:

Season Series

10/18/2018 PHI 3 @ CBJ 6
12/06/2018 CBJ 4 @ PHI 3 (OT)
12/22/2018 CBJ 4 @ PHI 3
02/28/2019 PHI @ CBJ

Stats

Philadelphia   Columbus
2.95 (15) GPG 3.18 (10)
3.33 (27) GAPG 2.97 (14)
17.2% (23) PP% 15.8% (26)
76.8% (28) PK% 84.0% (3)
49.46% (16) EV Corsi % 50.15% (13)
99.7 (17) EV PDO 100.1 (13)
Sean Couturier, 25 G Leader Cam Atkinson, 35
Claude Giroux, 46 A Leader Artemi Panarin, 45
Claude Giroux, 65 P Leader Artemi Panarin, 69
Robert Hagg, 53 (was previously Wayne Simmonds with 90) PIM Leader Josh Anderson, 54
17-12-4 Home / Road 19-10-1
6-3-1 Last 10 6-4-0

Projected Lineups

Artemi Panarin Pierre-Luc Dubois Cam Atkinson
Ryan Dzingel Matt Duchene Oliver BJORKSTRAND
Nick Foligno Boone Jenner Josh Anderson
Eric Robinson Riley Nash Brandon Dubinsky
Zach Werenski Seth Jones
Markus Nutivaara David Savard
Hott Scarrington Adam McQuaid
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Claude Giroux Nolan Patrick Travis Konecny
Oscar Lindblom Sean Couturier Jakub Voracek
James van Riemsdyk Scott Laughton Ryan Hartman
Philippe Myers Corban Knight Michael Raffl
Ivan Provorov Travis Sanheim
Shayne Gostisbehere Radko Gudas
Robert Hagg Andrew MacDonald
Brian Elliott
Cam Talbot