Game #66 Preview: Gotta go through hell to get to heaven

Tuesday, March 5, 2019 – 7:00 EST
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: All About the Jersey

Columbus Blue Jackets (36-26-3, 75 points, 5th Metro, 9th East)

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New Jersey Devils (25-33-8, 58 points, 8th Metro, 14th East)

Last week sucked. The enthusiasm and good will earned through the trade deadline has been squandered thanks to a 1-3 record – all at home! – since the deadline. Two critically important games against the Pittsburgh Penguins loom, but first a game against the New Jersey Devils. They are not good this year, but that’s the kind of game these Jackets seem to play down for.

Player to Watch

Ryan Dzingel

As I said in my recap of Sunday’s game, Dzingel has been largely invisible since being acquired. Tonight is his fifth game in a Columbus uniform, so it’s time for him to start contributing. Will Torts give him top 6 minutes finally?

Jackets Notes

My projected lineups are based on these hints that Torts dropped today:

John Tortorella said he started to feel comfortable with the lines as Sunday’s game went on and has a good idea what he’ll do vs. NJ. Said he’ll likely have same D pairs as well. #CBJ

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 4, 2019

The lines changed so much that it’s hard to know which combinations Torts liked the most. Nick Foligno looked better than expected with Matt Duchene. Hopefully this means Alexander Wennberg – #FreeWennberg – plays again, and gets at least third line minutes rather than fourth line minutes. Dzingel and Josh Anderson could be a great pair of wings for him. That could be a more skilled version of the Vanek/Jenner wings he had last March.

The Other Bench

After a playoff run last year, it has been a very bad year for the Devils. All About the Jersey explains what went wrong in February … They were sellers at the trade deadine … Last year’s Hart Trophy winner, Taylor Hall, has been out since December with a knee injury. Considering there is nothing left to play for, he may not play again this season … The Devils could trade Keith Kinkaid to Columbus because of the breakout season from rookie goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood. He and Cory Schneider have traded starts for the last week, and with 2.25 GAA and .931 save percentage, why wouldn’t you keep playing him to see if he’s the goalie of the future?

Season Series

12/20/2018 NJD 1 @ CBJ 2
12/23/2018 CBJ 3 @ NJD 0
01/15/2019 NJD 1 @ CBJ 4
03/05/2019 CBJ @ NJD

Stats

Projected Lineups