Game Preview #81 – Close Out The Nat In Style

Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets

April 10, 2015 – 7:00 pm EDT
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Radio – WBNS 97.1 FM – TV – Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent’s Blog: Die By The Blade

We know there can’t possibly be as much drama as last year’s final home game, but the Blue Jackets have made this one worthy of attendance.

Think about it: as bad as this season has been in stretches, this team–THIS team–finishes with 40+ wins for just the third time ever. The other two times were the two playoff teams. The 2009 playoff squad finished with 41 wins. A win tonight matches that, and if they can somehow earn a win tomorrow, they would eclipse that mark.

But, perhaps most importantly, we saw on Wednesday what THIS team–now basically healthy–can do to a bad team. They flat-out embarrassed the Leafs en route to a 5-0 stomping. Tonight has the potential to be just as dominant, assuming the Jackets keep doing what they’ve been doing. Granted, the Sabres have been pluckier than the Leafs of late, but they’re still a sub-60 point team with a goal differential worse than -100. Think about that for a minute.

In short, this shouldn’t end the way the last meeting between these clubs did, when Columbus may have been at their lowest point. After losing to Buffalo, the Jackets went on to lose five of the next six. And then, ya know, 13-1-1.

Some good news: Cam Atkinson appears to be OK to play after cutting his hand on a skate during the post-game bench celebration BECAUSE THIS SEASON OF COURSE HE DID. Also, Tyutin appears to be good to go, and will draw in for Justin Falk. Me likey.

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets
(40-35-5, 83 Points; 6th division, 12th conference)

Buffalo Sabres
(23-49-8, 54 Points; 8th Division, 16th Conference)

Season Series

BUF – 1-1-0
CBJ – 1-1-0

10/09/14 – Columbus 3 at Buffalo 1
02/24/15 – Buffalo 4 at Columbus 2
04/10/15 – Buffalo at Columbus

Head to Head Stats