Game Preview #56 - Which Way Are We Headed?
The Jackets aren't in the playoff race, really, but they aren't technically out of it, either. The trade deadline is coming soon, and the schedule between now and then will tell the tale.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins
February 17th, 2015 - 7:00 PM EST
CONSOL Energy Center - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Radio - WBNS 97.1 - TV - Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent's Blog: PensBurgh
The Jackets next seven games before the trade deadline:
@Pittsburgh
@Montreal
@New York Rangers
vs. Buffalo
vs. Montreal
vs. New Jersey
@ Pittsburgh
So, the Jackets could be "expected" to win, what, two of those? Right now they're smack in the middle of no-man's land. Not close to the playoffs, not close to the top of the draft. Which way will this team choose to go? I suspect this upcoming schedule will help them make their decisions.
No lineup updates as of yet re: Nick Foligno, but there is some hope he'll play. This is not the same Penguins lineup the Jackets hung on to beat in December. No mumps to be found.
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
(25-27-3, 53 Points; 6th division, 12th conference)
| Scott Hartnell | Ryan Johansen | Corey Tropp |
| Matt Calvert | Brandon Dubinsky | Cam Atkinson |
| Alexander Wennberg | Artem Anisimov | |
| Jack Skille | Mark Letestu | Jared Boll |
| Jack Johnson | David Savard |
| Fedor Tyutin | Cody Goloubef |
| Kevin Connauton | James Wisniewski |
| Curtis McElhinney |
| Anton Forsberg |
Pittsburgh Penguins
(32-16-9, 73 Points; 3rd Division, 6th Conference)
| Chris Kunitz | Sidney Crosby | David Perron |
| Blake Comeau | Evgeni Malkin | Patric Hornqvist |
| Nick Spaling | Brandon Sutter | Beau Bennett |
| Craig Adams | Maxim Lapierre | Steve Downie |
| Paul Martin | Kris Letang |
| Rob Scuderi | Simon Despres |
| Derrick Pouliot | Robert Bortuzzo |
| Marc-Andre Fleury |
| Thomas Greiss |
Season Series
PIT - 0-0-1
CBJ - 1-0-012/13/14 - Pittsburgh 3 at Columbus 4 (SO)
2/19/15 - Columbus at Pittsburgh
3/1/15 - Columbus at Pittsburgh
4/4/15 - Pittsburgh at Columbus
Head to Head Stats
| Pittsburgh | Columbus | |
| 2.79 (12) | GPG | 2.60 (21) |
| 2.44 (6) | GAPG | 3.11 (26) |
| 20.3% (8) | PP% | 22.5% (5) |
| 85.1% (6) | PK% | 80.6% (18) |
| Evgeni Malkin, 21 | G leader | Nick Foligno, 22 |
| Sidney Crosby, 39 | A leader | Ryan Johansen, 31 |
| Sidney Crosby, 58 | Pts leader | Nick Foligno / Ryan Johansen, 52 |
| Steve Downie, 187 | PIM leader | Scott Hartnell, 78 |
| 18-9-3 | Home/Road | 13-13-1 |
| 5-4-1 | Last 10 | 5-5-0 |
| 2/17 vs. Washington, L 3-1 | Last Game | 2/17 @ Philadelphia, W 5-2 |