Game Preview #64 - T-Minus 19 And Counting...
The Jackets head to Jersey to continue on their quest for... hockey?
Columbus Blue Jackets at New Jersey Devils
March 6, 2015 - 7:00 pm EST
Prudential Center - Newark, New Jersey
Radio - WBNS 97.1 FM - TV - Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent's Blog: In Lou We Trust
I don't have a lot to say about this, other than New Jersey is trying like mad to make the playoffs, and the Jackets are one point ahead of Carolina in the standings. I'm going to let you all decide for yourselves as to what we should be rooting for tonight.
(Full disclosure, I'm a "let's tank!" mindset for all of the hours during which the CBJ are NOT playing games. For the three hours they're on the ice, I'm all-in for winning. Just so we're clear...)
According to Jody Shelley's Tweet this morning, Brandon Dubinsky will be back, skating on the wing for the third line. Interesting to see also that Marko Dano has earned some top-six time. I'm all for this... dude hustles his butt off, and might as well see how his game's matured over the course of the season by getting him some offensive minutes.
Cory Schneider will again be in net for the Devils, and he smothered the Jackets on Saturday to the tune of a shut-out. Can Columbus finally score a goal on him??
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
(26-33-4, 56 Points; 7th division, 13th conference)
| Nick Foligno | Ryan Johansen | Cam Atkinson |
| Scott Hartnell | Alexander Wennberg | Marko Dano |
| Brandon Dubinsky | Artem Anisimov | Brian Gibbons |
| Corey Tropp | Mark Letestu | Jared Boll |
| Jack Johnson | David Savard |
| Fedor Tyutin | Dalton Prout |
| Justin Falk | Cody Goloubef |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Curtis McElhinney |
New Jersey Devils
(27-27-10, 64 Points; 6th Division, 12th Conference)
| Adam Henrique | Scott Gomez | Steve Bernier |
| Mike Cammalleri | Travis Zajac | Jordin Tootoo |
| Dainius Zubrus | Patrik Elias | Brian Gionta |
| Tuomo Ruutu | Jacob Josefson | Peter Harrold |
| Andy Greene | Adam Larsson |
| Mark Fraser | Eric Gelinas |
| Jon Merrill | Damon Severson |
| Cory Schneider |
| Scott Clemmensen |
Season Series
NJD - 2-0-0
CBJ - 0-2-011/01/14 - Columbus 2 at New Jersey 3
02/28/15 - New Jersey 2 at Columbus 0
03/06/15 - Columbus at New Jersey
03/31/15 - New Jersey at Columbus
Head to Head Stats
| New Jersey | Columbus | |
| 2.19 (27) | GPG | 2.52 (24) |
| 2.48 (8) | GAPG | 3.16 (26) |
| 19.4% (9) | PP% | 20.7% (8) |
| 80.3% (21) | PK% | 80.2% (23) |
| Mike Cammalleri, 24 | G leader | Nick Foligno, 24 |
| Adam Henrique, 20 | A leader | Ryan Johansen, 34 |
| Mike Cammalleri, 34 | Pts leader | Nick Foligno, 57 |
| Jordin Tootoo, 61 | PIM leader | Jared Boll, 93 |
| 16-9-8 | Home/Road | 14-15-2 |
| 6-3-1 | Last 10 | 2-7-1 |
| 3/3 vs Nashville, W 3-1 | Last Game | 3/3 vs. Washington, L, 5-3 |