Round 2 Game 6 Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets face elimination at home

Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets
Tuesday, May 6, 2019 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: NBCSN – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder

Boston Bruins 49-24-9, 107 points, 2nd Atlantic, 2nd East, defeated Toronto 4-3
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Columbus Blue Jackets 47-31-4, 98 points, 5th Metro, 8th East, defeated Tampa Bay 4-0

Boston leads series 3-2

This is it. Do or die for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

After struggling to mount any offense for much of the series, the Blue Jackets found their game late in game five. But it was too late in the game, as Boston was able to win the game late. Now the Jackets face elimination on home ice as they stare down the barrel of a must win game, or their season is over.

The lineup will be messy – expect Torts to juggle lines as he looks for consisent offense. The forwards who have struggled for much of this series have to show up and play big tonight. And the defense must do better at limiting scoring chances for the Bruins.

Otherwise? We’re making tee times tomorrow. No one wants to play golf right now.

Player to Watch

Sergei Bobrovsky

If this is Bob’s final game in Columbus as a Blue Jacket, let’s send him out in style. Sergei Bobrovsky has been immense this postseason, finally exorcising his demons and posting a .928 SV% and a 2.33 GAA in nine games played. It would be really grand if he were able to finally earn a playoff shutout for his resume in Nationwide Arena.

Jackets Notes

Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and Seth Jones are all averaging a point per game in the playoffs thus far … Dean Kukan scored his first career playoff goal on Saturday night … Sergei Bobrovsky has a .925 SV% in this series … Blue Jackets forwards have scored six even strength goals this series

The Other Bench

Tuukka Rask has a .936 SV% in this series … Boston’s top line has combined for 6-5-11 in the last two games, both Boston wins

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 1 @ CBJ 2
05/02/2019 BOS 4 @ CBJ 1
05/04/2019 CBJ 3 @ BOS 4
05/06/2019 BOS @ CBJ
05/08/2019 CBJ @ BOS (if necessary)

Stats

Projected Lineup

Good luck guessing the lineup. Riley Nash traveled and may be close, so this will assume he plays tonight for now.