Round 2 Game 3 Preview: Blue Jackets look for series-statement win at home

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: NBCSN; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder

Columbus Blue Jackets (47-31-4, 98 points, 5th Metro, 8th East, defeated Tampa Bay 4-0)

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Boston Bruins (49-24-9, 107 points, 2nd Atlantic, 2nd East, defeated Toronto 4-3)

Two games, two overtime’s, one tied, tight playoff series. Matt Duchene‘s double overtime game-winner on Saturday night pulled his Columbus Blue Jackets into a 1-1 series tie with the Boston Bruins, setting the stage for what should be a spectacular Game 3 at Nationwide Arena Tuesday night.

Player to Watch

Sergei Bobrovsky has shown up in these playoffs, battling every play that comes his way like we’ve been used to seeing from him during the regular season. So far, he’s 5-1 with a 2.01 GAA and .930 SV% in 387:46 minutes in the Blue Jackets crease. A complete 180-turnaround from the first period of Game 1 against the Lightning, and previous postseasons.

Jackets Notes

Ryan Dzingel was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s Game 2. … In his place, Alexander Wennberg made his first start for the Blue Jackets in the playoffs, skating 16:11. … It was his first game since Apr. 2 against the Bruins. … Alexandre Texier was benched the final 36:38 of game 2. … Artemi Panarin’s two goals in Game 2 puts him into a tie for the lead among the team with four goals alongside Matt Duchene. … Panarin, scoring a point in every playoff game thus far, leads the way with nine points (four goals, five assists), Duchene and Seth Jones are tied for second with eight points. … Panarin’s six-straight games with a point is a franchise playoff record, surpassing Boone Jenner’s five-straight games with a point in 2014. … Josh Anderson and Riley Nash each missed practice Monday with maintenance days.

CBJ practicing today without Anderson and Nash. Jared Boll, who is now an assistant development coach, is taking rushes on the fourth line with Jenner and Dubinsky. Dzingel with Bjorkstrand and Wennberg. Texier with Duchene and Foligno. Panarin-Dubois-Atkinson.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 29, 2019

The Other Bench

Knowing the intensity of the playoffs and the grind that accompanies every series, game, and shift, the Bruins did not practice Sunday, but returned to practice on Monday. Coming into their series with Columbus, the Bruins had the No. 2 power play in the playoffs after going 7-for-16 (43.8%) against the Maple Leafs. Against Columbus, they are just 1-for-8 with the man-advantage in the first two games. David Krejci, considered day-to-day after a hit by Riley Nash in Game 1, played in Game 2, scoring an assist in 21:28. Bruins forward and Ohio native Sean Kuraly will be back in his home state for Game 3, and Aaron Portzline sheds more light (The Athletic, subscription required).

Season Series

03/12/2019 BOS 4 @ CBJ 7
03/16/2019 CBJ 1 @ BOS 2 (OT)
04/02/2019 BOS 6 @ CBJ 2

04/25/2019 CBJ 2 @ BOS 3 (OT)
04/27/2019 CBJ 3 @ BOS 2 (2 OT)
04/30/2019 BOS @ CBJ
05/02/2019 BOS @ CBJ
05/04/2019 CBJ @ BOS (if necessary)
05/06/2019 BOS @ CBJ (if necessary)
05/08/2019 CBJ @ BOS (if necessary)

Stats

Projected Lineups