APRIL 6, 2021 II vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 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: 14-18-8, 36 pts. (7^th, Discover Central Division) 

Goals:  2.40 Goals-For/3.15 Goals-Against… Shots:  29.0 Shots-For/31.8 Shots-Against

Power Play:  14.1 percent (27^th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  77.2 percent (21^st, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  6.5 PIM (2^nd, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  4-5-3 (2-3)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Record: 26-10-2, 54 pts. (2nd, Discover Central Division)

Goals:  3.39 Goals-For/2.42 Goals-Against… Shots:  30.3 Shots-For/28.0 Shots-Against

Power Play:  26.2 percent (3^rd, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  81.8 percent (10^th, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  9.6 PIM (30^th, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  4-1-1 (1-1)

Players to Watch:  D Victor Hedman (Finalist for Norris Trophy last four seasons, winning award in 2017-18; Leads NHL blueliners in assists (tied) and points with 7-29-36 in 2020-21); G Andrei Vasilevskiy (Finalist for Vezina Trophy past three campaigns, winning award in 2018-19; leads NHL in wins (23, tied) and SV% (.932, min. 10 GP)).

ALL-TIME SERIES

Results:  Columbus has gone 12-18-6 in 36 regular season games vs. the Lightning, including 7-8-3 at home… Of Note: The two teams have met in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past two years.  Columbus swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Lightning in 2019 before Tampa Bay earned a 4-1 series victory in 2020 on its way to the second Stanley Cup in franchise history… Columbus had its four-game regulation unbeaten streak vs. Tampa Bay (2-0-2) snapped in the most recent meeting last Thursday… The winning team has scored three or more goals in 14 of the last 16 regular season meetings… Goals:  CBJ – 75, TBL – 100… CBJ PP:  16-of-123 (13.0%)…CBJ PK:  96-of-121 (79.3%).

This Season (CBJ, 2-1-1)

Jan. 21 – Tampa Bay 3, at Columbus 2 (OT)

Jan. 23 – at COLUMBUS 5, Tampa Bay 2

Mar. 30 – COLUMBUS 3, at Tampa Bay 1

Apr. 1 – at Tampa Bay 3, COLUMBUS 2

Apr. 6 – at COLUMBUS… Apr. 6 – at COLUMBUS

Apr. 22 – at Tampa Bay… Apr. 25 – at Tampa Bay

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

Feb. 10, 2020 – Tampa Bay 2, at Columbus 1 (OT)

Mar. 27, 2020 – at Tampa Bay (Cancelled)

Apr. 2, 2020 – at Columbus (Cancelled)

CBJ TEAM NOTES

The Blue Jackets look to snap a three-game losing streak after falling most recently 3-0 in Florida on Sunday… The Jackets are back home for a four-game homestand against Tampa Bay and Chicago from Apr. 6-12 after finishing up their first of two six-game road trips this month… Columbus concludes a stretch of 10 of 12 games against the top three teams in the Central Division (Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina) from Mar. 18-Apr. 8 with its two-game series against the Lightning… CBJ have killed off 18-of-19 opponent power play attempts in the past nine games (94.7 pct) and 21-of-23 over the last 12 (91.3 pct.).  The club ranks third in the NHL in penalty kill percentage since Mar. 13 over the 12-game stretch… The Blue Jackets have played in 21 one-goal games this season… CBJ have picked up points in three of their last four Tuesday games (2-1-1).

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

RW Cam Atkinson has played 20-plus minutes in each of the past four contests… RW Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has 8-7-15 in the last 17 games, has collected 2-1-3 in four games vs. Tampa Bay this season… F Nick Foligno has tallied points in three of the four games against the Lightning in 2020-21 (2-2-4)… C Boone Jenner leads CBJ in faceoff percentage (54.6) and has won 50 pct. or more of his draws in 15 of the last 21 contests… G Joonas Korpisalo has posted a 2.48 GAA and .916 SV% in his past 13 games since February 25, while G Elvis Merzlikins has registered a 2.54 GAA and .924 SV% in his last seven outings since March 13, starting five-straight games for the Blue Jackets from Mar. 27-Apr. 3… D David Savard is one of two players in the NHL (EDM’s Adam Larsson) to record 80-plus blocked shots (87) and hits (92) this season… D Zach Werenski had points in three-straight games (2-2-4) prior to Sunday and has recorded 5-6-11 in the last 14 games.

MILESTONES

•     RW Cam Atkinson is seven points from 400 in his NHL career (211-182-393, 611 GP).

•     D Michael Del Zotto is six games from 700 in his NHL career (58-185-243, 694 GP).

•     LW Nick Foligno is three games from 600 in his CBJ career (141-192-333, 597 GP).

•     D Scott Harrington is three games from 200 in his NHL career (7-30-37, 197 GP).

•     D David Savard is four games from 600 in his NHL career (41-125-166, 596 GP).

•     HC John Tortorella (669) is four wins from surpassing Mike Keenan (672) for 12^th on NHL all-time wins list.

OhioHEALTH INJURY REPORT

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

•       RW Emil Bemstrom (lower body injury on Mar. 17) is expected to miss a week.

                              o TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST:  94.

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