Game Preview #12: Let the Good Times Roll

Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins
Thursday, November 10, 2016 – 7:00 EST
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder

Columbus is 6-2-2 in their last ten. Did you know that?

Did you further know that Alexander Wennberg is tied for the NHL lead in assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky is tied for the league lead in shutouts?

Talk about a turnaround from the start of last season.

Columbus heads to Boston on the heels of an overtime victory last night (one that was so neatly recapped here). Zach Werenski, noted do everything defenseman, scored the game winner. Also, there’s this:

#CBJ franchise record for points by a rookie d’man is 21: Ryan Murray, 4-17-21 in 2013-14.
Werenski more than halfway there after 11 games.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 10, 2016

#CBJ Werenski also on pace to smash franchise mark for points by rookie, regardless of position. That’s Rick Nash, 17-22-39 in 2002-03.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 10, 2016

So, yeah. He’s really good.

Boston, as you’ll remember, smashed Columbus in the home opener 6-3. Brad Marchand had 5 points that night. The top line ate us alive, and now they added Patrice Bergeron to it. Columbus MUST find a way to shut that line down to have a chance tonight.

Tuukka Rask has found his game to open this season, sporting a sterling 1.74 GAA and .941 SV%. Can the Blue Jackets find a way to solve him? They’ll have to if they want to get anything out of tonight’s matchup.

In team news, the Blue Jackets recalled Markus Hannikainen this morning. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports that he is simply an insurance recall for the trip.

Go Jackets. Let’s get a win tonight. We’re one point back in the wild card standings, with a game in hand over New Jersey and three in hand over Detroit (tied with Boston and Philadelphia as well, actually, but with games in hand over both). Tonight’s matchup is huge for the standings, and at least one point is critical.

Standings Update

Columbus Blue Jackets, 6-3-2, 14 points, 5th Metro, 9th East
@
Boston Bruins, 7-6-0, 14 points, 5th Atlantic, 10th East

Season Series

10/13/16 – Boston 6 @ Columbus 3
11/16/16 – Columbus @ Boston
12/27/16 – Boston @ Columbus

Stats Matchup

Probable Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Boston Bruins