Game Preview: It’s The Final Countdown As Columbus Hosts Detroit

Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Winging It In Motown
Game Faceoff

Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets head into the final week of the regular season (and the second to last home game) in a matchup against the Atlantic Division basement dwellers, the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings have played Columbus tough this season, with both games being decided by just one goal (one in a shootout), though the Jackets have managed four points from the two games.

With much of the team ill yesterday, practice was sparse.

A raft of #CBJ players missing from practice: Jones, Nutivaara, Murray, Sedlak, Anderson, Foligno, Panarin, Vanek.

— Tom Reed (@treed1919) April 2, 2018

However, John Tortorella did not seem concerned about his players’ availability tonight. He did mention that Markus Nutivaara is considered day to day with an upper body injury, and he would not play tonight. Jack Johnson, healthy scratched as of late, will draw back into the lineup in Nutivaara’s spot.He shared no updates on Nick Foligno or Josh Anderson.

As far as playoffs go, a three point swing between Columbus and Florida tonight will clinch a playoff spot for Columbus. Florida won last night, so the Jackets do not control their destiny to clinch tonight but they still do overall. Here are the scenarios that will allow Columbus to clinch their spot in the dance tonight:

FLA wins 3-2. This means #CBJ can clinch a playoff spot Tuesday with:

1. A win and any FLA loss to NSH
2. A point and FLA reg loss to NSH

— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) April 3, 2018

Go Jackets. Let’s take care of business tonight.

Probable Lineups