Preview: Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets
Here’s what you need to know.
Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets
Saturday, March 17, 2018 - 7:00 EDT
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio - Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Silver Seven Sens
Ottawa Senators, 26-33-11, 63 points, 6th Atlantic, 14th East
@
Columbus Blue Jackets, 38-28-5, 81 points, 4th Metro, 8th East
Season Series
12/29/2017 CBJ 4 @ OTT 5
11/27/2017 CBJ 5 @ OTT 2
Every game’s big from here on out, and tonight’s no exception. The Blue Jackets have won their last six and face an Senators squad that’s playing for nothing but pride—and to extend their own win streak to four games.
Tonight marks the final meeting between Columbus and Ottawa this year, and the CBJ could pick up some much-needed ground in the playoff race with New Jersey, Florida and Philadelphia all in action today.
The Jackets haven’t had the toughest run over the last week or so and they’ve been able to earn two points against teams they should beat. That’s the story of tonight as well, and there’s no reason they can’t keep their hot offense going against one of the league’s worst defenses. That said, the Senators have bested Tampa Bay, Florida and Dallas to bring a boatload of confidence and momentum into Nationwide Arena.
With a road back-to-back against Boston and the New York Rangers on Monday and Tuesday, the CBJ need to take care of business tonight at home and spend Sunday resting for a crucial week ahead.
Stats Preview
| Ottawa | Category | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| 2.77 (21) | GPG | 2.70 (25) |
| 3.36 (30) | GAPG | 2.73 (9) |
| 17.1% (26) | PP% | 15.2% (29) |
| 75.5 (27) | PK% | 77.5% (25) |
| 47.2% (28) | EV Corsi % | 51.5% (7) |
| 99.3 (20) | EV PDO | 99.8 (16) |
| Mike Hoffman, 20 | G Leader | Artemi Panarin, 21 |
| Erik Karlsson, 48 | A Leader | Artemi Panarin, 42 |
| Mark Stone, 62 | P Leader | Artemi Panarin, 63 |
| Mark Borowiecki, 58 | PIM Leader | Nick Foligno, 48 |
| 11-19-5 | Home / Road | 23-11-2 |
| 5-4-1 | Last 10 | 8-2-0 |
Probable Lines
| Artemi Panarin | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Cam Atkinson |
| Sonny Milano | Nick Foligno | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Sonny Milano | Alexander Wennberg | Boone Jenner |
| Matt Calvert | Brandon Dubinsky | Mark Letestu |
| Zach Werenski | Seth Jones |
| Ryan Murray | Jack Johnson |
| Ian Cole | David Savard |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Ryan Dzingel | Matt Duchene | Mike Hoffman |
| Bobby Ryan | Jean-Gabriel Pageau | Alexandre Burrows |
| Magnus Paajarvi | Zack Smith | Tom Pyatt |
| Max McCormick | Jim O'Brien | Erik Karlsson |
| Thomas Chabot | Erik Karlsson |
| Ben Harpur | Cody Ceci |
| Mark Borowiecki | Fredrik Claesson |
| Mike Condon |
| Craig Anderson |