Game #63 Preview: New and Improved Jackets Get a Second Chance
Let’s just forget Tuesday happened
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:
🎶 I’m just a Grit and I’m on FIREEEEEEE 🎶 pic.twitter.com/lFFqZnlOgl
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 24, 2019
Later, he got “ejected” for streaking:
I’ve since been ejected. pic.twitter.com/6ims2CQpsc
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 24, 2019
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 |