Blue Jackets host Nashville tonight

MAY 3, 2021 II vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS II NATIONWIDE ARENA II 7 PM ET

CBJ BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV:  Bally Sports Ohio           Jeff Rimer (play-by-play), Jody Shelley (color analyst), Dave Maetzold (reporter)              
Radio:  97.1 The Fan              Bob McElligott (play-by-play), Dylan Tyrer (host)

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Record: 16-25-11, 43 pts. (8th, Discover Central Division) 

Goals:  2.31 Goals-For/3.25 Goals-Against… Shots:  29.0 Shots-For/32.2 Shots-Against

Power Play:  14.4 percent (29th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  80.0 percent (15th-T, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  7.2 PIM (8th-T, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  5-8-3 (3-3)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Record: 28-22-2, 58 pts. (4th, Discover Central Division)

Goals:  2.63 Goals-For/2.81 Goals-Against… Shots:  29.8 Shots-For/31.6 Shots-Against

Power Play:  17.7 percent (25th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  75.2 percent (29th, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  9.3 PIM (27th, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  9-2-0 (5-0)

Players to Watch:  LW Filip Forsberg (Forward has 11-18-29 and 3 GWG in 35 GP); D Roman Josi (Captain, who captured 2019-20 Norris Trophy as NHL’s best defenseman, leads club with 6-25-31 in 45 GP)

ALL-TIME SERIES

Results:  Columbus has gone 28-53-1-11 in 93 regular season games vs. the Predators, including a 19-20-0-5 mark at home… Of Note: The clubs competed as Central Division rivals over 12 seasons from 2000-13… The Blue Jackets have won two of the last three meetings at Nationwide Arena… The winning team had scored three-plus goals in 15 of the past 16 games, including four of the five meetings this season… The winning club has posted four or more goals in 11 of the last 16 outings… The Predators have won 11 of the last 14 games in the series since Mar. 26, 2016 (CBJ; 3-10-1)… Columbus has killed off 19-of-21 Nashville power play attempts in the past nine meetings (90.5 pct)… Goals:  CBJ – 204, NSH – 281… CBJ PP:  54-of-342 (15.8 pct.)…CBJ PK:  322-of-391 (82.4 pct.).

This Season (CBJ, 1-5-0)

Jan. 14 – at Nashville 3, COLUMBUS 1

Jan. 16 – at Nashville 5, COLUMBUS 2

Feb. 18 – at COLUMBUS 3, Nashville 0

Feb. 20 – Nashville 4, at COLUMBUS 2

Feb. 27 – at Nashville 2, COLUMBUS 1

Feb. 28 – at Nashville 3 , COLUMBUS 1

May 3 – at COLUMBUS… May 5 – at COLUMBUS

2019-20 Results (CBJ, 0-0-1)

Feb. 22, 2020 – at Nashville 4, Columbus 3 (SO)

Mar. 14, 2020 – Cancelled

CBJ TEAM NOTES

The Blue Jackets have recorded points in three-straight games (1-0-2) following a 2-1 overtime loss at Carolina on Saturday… Each of the past three contests have been decided after regulation… CBJ close out the 2020-21 campaign with a four-game homestand beginning Monday… Columbus has killed off 47-of-52 opponent power play attempts in the past 21 games since March 20 (90.4 pct; 1st in NHL) and 50-of-56 over the last 24 since March 13 (89.3 pct.; 1st in NHL)… The Blue Jackets have played in 26 one-goal games this season, including each of the past three contests… CBJ have scored the first goal of the game on 31 occasions, tied for third-most in the NHL.

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

RW Cam Atkinson ranks second on the club in goals and points with 14-17-31 in 52 appearances… RW Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has 1-6-7 in the past seven contests, leads the club in goals, assists, points and multi-point efforts with 15-24-39 and eight multi-point outings in 52 outings.  He is one point from tying his single-season career high (2017-18)… C Max Domi has posted 3-7-10 in his last 13 games played… D Seth Jones, who ranks fifth in the NHL in TOI/G (25:14), is one of seven players in the NHL to record 90-plus hits (98) and blocked shots (91) this season… G Elvis Merzlikins has posted a 1.87 GAA and .945 SV% in his past six games played since April 17… C Jack Roslovic has 4-4-8 and two multi-point efforts in the last 12 appearances and has set career highs in assists and points this season with 10-20-30 in 44 GP… LW Eric Robinson has collected 2-2-4 in the last six contests.

MILESTONES

•     RW Cam Atkinson is one point from 400 in his NHL career (212-187-399, 623 GP).

•     RW Oliver Bjorkstrand is two games from 300 in his NHL career (80-92-172, 298 GP).

•     C Jack Rolsovic is three points from 100 in his NHL career (36-61-97, 224 GP).

•     HC John Tortorella (671) is two wins from surpassing Mike Keenan (672) for 12th-most wins in NHL history.

OhioHEALTH INJURY REPORT

•       LW Gus Nyquist (shoulder surgery on Nov. 3; Injured Reserve) is expected to miss five-to-six months.

•       C Boone Jenner (broken finger on Apr. 6) is expected to miss six weeks.

•       D Zach Werenski (inguinal/sports hernia: Injured Reserve) is out for the rest of the season.

•       G Joonas Korpisalo (lower body injury on Apr. 25) is out for the rest of the season.

•       LW/RW Patrik Laine (illness) is day-to-day.

•       LW Zac Dalpe (lower body) is day-to-day.

                              o TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST:  145.

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS

Posted in NHL