This is a weird one, with Columbus playing a rare afternoon game. I kind of like it, though. Gives me an excuse to avoid watching the Browns.
Keys to the Game
- Wakey wakey: How will the players on both sides handle the unusual start time? Will they prepare for it like they would for a morning skate? I’d expect slow play in the early minutes as the players’ body clocks adjust.
- Get hit in the face: On Tuesday, Brandon Dubinsky took a puck off the beak, then won the faceoff that led directly to Cam Atkinson’s game-winner. On Friday, Matt Calvert took one off the dome then came back 36 stitches later and scored a shorty that became the deciding goal. I don’t want to risk injury to any of our players, but I’m just saying it may be worth it for someone else to take one for the team if it results in a big goal.
- Let the good times roll: Columbus is playing their third divisional game in a row. They’re 2-0-0 so far. They’ve won 7 straight game home games, but their road record is not as strong (2-2-2). Still, they have to feel good about the results so far this year:/
#CBJ 9-4-2 (20 pts) record marks best 15-game start in franchise history. Over last five seasons, club was combined 19-52-4 in 1st 15 games.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 20, 2016
What You Need To Know
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Washington Capitals
Saturday, November 20, 2016 – 12:30 EST
Verizon Center, Washington, DC
TV: Fox Sports Ohio –Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Japers’ Rink
Columbus Blue Jackets, 9-4-2, 20 points, 5th Metro, 9th East
vs.
Washington Capitals, 11-4-2, 24 points, 3rd Metro, 5th East
Season Series
Columbus 1-0-0
Washington 0-0-1
11/15/16 WAS 1-2 (OT) CBJ
11/20/16 CBJ @ WAS
01/05/17 CBJ @ WAS
03/23/17 CBJ @ WAS
04/02/17 WAS @ CBJ
Stats
| Washington | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.71 (13) | GPG | 3.40 (2) |
| 2.12 (2) | GAPG | 2.33 (7) |
| 13.7% (23) | PP% | 29.3% (1) |
| 84.6% (12) | PK% | 84.8% (11) |
| 52.26% (5) | EV CF% | 46.89% (27) |
| 102.8 (6) | EV PDO | 103.6 (3) |
| T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin, 8 | G Leader | Sam Gagner, 7 |
| Nicklas Backstrom, 11 | A Leader | Alexander Wennberg, 13 |
| Nicklas Backstrom, 15 | P Leader | Nick Foligno, 16 |
| Lars Eller and Tom Wilson, 16 | PIM Leader | Josh Anderson, 17 |
| 6-2-0 | Home / Road | 2-2-2 |
| 7-2-1 | Last 10 | 7-2-1 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Boone Jenner | Brandon Dubinsky | Cam Atkinson |
| Brandon Saad | Alexander Wennberg | Nick Foligno |
| Matt Calvert | William Karlsson | Josh Anderson |
| Scott Hartnell | Lukas Sedlak | Sam Gagner |
| Jack Johnson | Ryan Murray |
| Zach Werenski | David Savard |
| Markus Nutivaara | Scott Harrington |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Curtis McElhinney |
Roster News: LW Markus Hannikainen was recalled from Cleveland for this game, as the “just in case” spare forward for the trip. He likely won’t play….Seth Jones also won’t play, but Tom Reed of the Dispatch is reporting that he is practicing without limitation and is very close to returning. Not a moment too soon, I say.
Washington Capitals
| TJ Oshie | Nicklas Backstrom | Alex Ovechkin |
| Marcus Johansson | Evgeny Kuznetsov | Tom Wilson |
| Andre Burakovsky | Lars Eller | Justin Williams |
| Zachary Sanford | Jay Beagle | Brett Connolly |
| Dmitry Orlov | John Carlson |
| Karl Alzner | Matt Niskanen |
| Brooks Orpik | Nate Schmidt |
| Braden Holtby |
| Philipp Grubauer |
We saw Grubauer on Tuesday. Will we get Holtby today?