Game #76 Preview: Depleted Blue Jackets wrap back-to-back weekend with a visit from the Ottawa Senators
The Blue Jackets close out their weekend homestand with a visit from the Senators. Here's what you need to know.
Ottawa Senators @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Sunday, April 2, 2023 - 6:00 PM EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: Bally's Sports Ohio - Radio: WBNS FM
Ottawa Senators, 37-33-5, 79 points, 6th Atlantic, 11th East
@
Columbus Blue Jackets,23-43-8, 54 points, 8th Metro, 16th East
The Columbus Blue Jackets return to the ice tonight to take on the Ottawa Senators as the 2022-23 season winds to a close.
Player to Watch
Tim Stutzle
Tim Stutzle, the 21 year old left win for the Ottawa Senators, has exploded onto the scene this season. In 71 games played thus far this season, Stutzle finds himself leading the Senators in all scoring categories - he has 37 goals, 47 assists, a total of 84 points in just his third season. Stutzle, chosen third overall with the pick acquired for Erik Karlsson, has blossomed into a playmaking winger for a Senators team that played meaningful hockey much later into this season than many expected them to. Shattering his previous career high of 58 points and finding the back of the net more consistently (18.1 shooting percentage this season) has allowed Stutzle to shine for the Senators.
Jackets Notes
The Columbus Blue Jackets are so depleted their roster last night would not have qualified for eligibility for a preseason game. I think that sums up where we're at nicely:
#cbj lineup is so thin right now. It wouldn’t even qualify for an exhibition game per NHL rules. Only 6 veterans tonight.😬 pic.twitter.com/Ictjjh3RaT
— Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre aka “The Hyphenator” (@JLGP34) April 1, 2023
The Other Bench
The Senators are also coming off a back to back when they play tonight, having hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs last night ... Former Blue Jacket Derick Brassard sustained a broken fibula against the Flyers last week ... Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, and Travis Hamonic are not available for the Senators tonight
Season Series
01/03/2023 CBJ 0 @ OTT 4
03/04/2023 CBJ 2 @ OTT 5
04/02/2023 OTT @ CBJ
Stats
| Ottawa | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.19 (18) | GPG | 2.68 (30) |
| 3.24 (19) | GAPG | 3.95 (31) |
| 24.7% (6) | PP% | 18.9% (25) |
| 81.7% (10) | PK% | 75.7% (22) |
| 51.05% (14) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 45.4% (29) |
| 51.43% (11) | 5v5 Unblocked shot attempt % | 45.1% (29) |
| 7.47 (32) | 5v5 Shooting % | 7.81 (27) |
| .907 (24) | 5v5 Save % | .903 (28) |
| Tim Stutzle, 37 | G Leader | Boone Jenner, 25 |
| Tim Stutzle, 47 | A Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 50 |
| Tim Stutzle, 84 | P Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 69 |
| Austin Watson | PIM Leader | Mathieu Olivier, 81 |
| 15-20-2 | Home / Road | 14-20-2 |
| 4-5-1 | Last 10 | 3-6-1 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Johnny Gaudreau | Boone Jenner | Kirill Marchenko |
| Eric Robinson | Kent Johnson | Hunter McKown |
| Liam Foudy | Sean Kuraly | Emil Bemstrom |
| Joona Luoto | Josh Dunne | Justin Richards |
| Gavin Bayreuther | Billy Sweezy |
| Tim Berni | Andrew Peeke |
| Jake Christiansen | Marcus Bjork |
| Michael Hutchinson |
| Jon Gillies |
Ottawa Senators
| Brady Tkachuk | Tim Stutzle | Claude Giroux |
| Alex DeBrincat | Shane Pinto | Drake Batherson |
| Mathieu Joseph | Ridley Greig | Dylan Gambrell |
| Patrick Brown | Mark Kastelic | Austin Watson |
| Jake Sanderson | Artem Zub |
| Erik Brannstrom | Jacob Bernard-Docker |
| Tyler Kleven | Nick Holden |
| Mads Sogaard |
| Cam Talbot |