APRIL 8, 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: 15-18-8, 38 pts. (6^th, Discover Central Division) 

Goals:  2.44 Goals-For/3.12 Goals-Against… Shots:  29.0 Shots-For/31.9 Shots-Against

Power Play:  14.4 percent (27^th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  78.1 percent (19^th-T, NHL)

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

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Record: 26-11-2, 54 pts. (3rd, Discover Central Division)

Goals:  3.36 Goals-For/2.46 Goals-Against… Shots:  30.5 Shots-For/28.0 Shots-Against

Power Play:  25.4 percent (4^th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  81.7 percent (10^th, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  9.6 PIM (29^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 points (tied) 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 SV% (.931, tied; min. 10 GP) and ranks second in wins (23)).

ALL-TIME SERIES

Results:  Columbus has gone 13-18-6 in 37 regular season games vs. the Lightning, including 8-8-3 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 has recorded points in five of last six reg. season meetings vs. Tampa Bay (3-1-2) and has points in four-straight home games of series (2-0-2)… The winning team has scored three or more goals in 15 of the last 17 regular season meetings… Goals:  CBJ – 79, TBL – 102… CBJ PP:  17-of-128 (13.3%)…CBJ PK:  100-of-125 (80.0%).

This Season (CBJ, 3-1-1)

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 4, Tampa Bay 2

Apr. 8 – 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 snapped a three-game winless streak with a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday… The Jackets continue their four-game homestand against Tampa Bay on Thursday before hosting Chicago for a two-game set… Columbus concludes a stretch of 10 of 12 games against the top three teams in the Central Division (Florida, Carolina, Tampa Bay) from Mar. 18-Apr. 8 with Thursday’s contest against the Lightning… CBJ have killed off 22-of-23 opponent power play attempts in the past 10 games (95.7 pct; 1^st in NHL) and 25-of-27 over the last 13 (92.6 pct.; 1^st in NHL)… The Blue Jackets have played in 21 one-goal games this season… CBJ have picked up points in nine of their 12 Thursday games this season (6-3-3).

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

RW Cam Atkinson has played 20-plus minutes in each of the past five contests and has collected 2-3-5 in the past eight games… RW Oliver Bjorkstrand has notched 8-7-15 in the last 18 games… C Max Domi has recorded two multi-point efforts in his last four games (1-3-4)… F Nick Foligno has tallied points in four of the five games against the Lightning in 2020-21 (3-2-5)… G Joonas Korpisalo has posted a 2.44 GAA and .919 SV% in his past 14 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… C Jack Roslovic registered his sixth multi-point outing of the season with 1-1-2 on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.  He is tied for the team lead in assists and ranks third in points with 7-17-24 in 33 GP… D David Savard is one of two players in the NHL (EDM’s Adam Larsson) to record 80-plus blocked shots (89) and hits (95) this season… D Zach Werenski has 2-3-5 in his last five games and 5-7-12 in the last 15 outings.

MILESTONES

•     RW Cam Atkinson is six points from 400 in his NHL career (211-183-394, 612 GP).

•     D Michael Del Zotto is five games from 700 in his NHL career (58-185-243, 695 GP).

•     LW Nick Foligno is two games from 600 in his CBJ career (142-192-334, 598 GP).

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

•     D David Savard is three games from 600 in his NHL career (41-125-166, 597 GP).

•     HC John Tortorella (670) is three 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.

•       C Riley Nash (knee injury on Apr. 4; Injured Reserve) is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.

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

                              o TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST:  97.

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