COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

TV:  Bally Sports Ohio           Jeff Rimer (play-by-play), Jody Shelley (color analyst), Dave Maetzold (reporter)              
Radio:  105.7 FM                    Bob McElligott (play-by-play), Dylan Tyrer (host)

THE MATCHUP

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2021-22 Record: 27-24-1, 55 pts. (5^th, Metropolitan Division)

Goals:  3.27 Goals-For/3.63 Goals-Against… Shots:  29.7 Shots-For/35.7 Shots-Against

Power Play:  16.9 percent (26^th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  81.2 percent (12^th, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  7.2 PIM (3^rd, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  9-0-1 (3-1)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

2021-22 Record: 31-14-8, 70 pts. (3^rd, Metropolitan Division)

Goals:  3.25 Goals-For/2.66 Goals-Against… Shots:  34.9 Shots-For/30.3 Shots-Against

Power Play:  21.6 percent (12^th, NHL)… Penalty Kill:  85.5 percent (3^rd, NHL)

Penalty Minutes:  6.5 PIM (1^st, NHL)… Overtime Record (Shootout):  6-3-5 (2-5)

Players to Watch:  LW Jake Guentzel leads the Penguins in goals and points with 25-27-52 in 47 games this season… D Kris Letang ranks second among NHL blueliners in assists and sixth in points with 6-41-47 in 49 outings in 2021-22… G Tristan Jarry currently ranks fourth-T in the NHL in wins with a 25-11-6 record, 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% in 42 appearances this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Results:  Columbus has gone 14-21-8 in 43 all-time meetings, including 10-8-4 at home… Of Note: The teams did not meet in 2020-21… The Blue Jackets went 1-1-1 vs. the Penguins in 2019-20, picking up points in each of the last two meetings (1-0-1)… CBJ are 7-4-1 over the last 12 home games of the series since Dec. 13, 2014… Six of the last 15 meetings have been decided after regulation (4-OT, 2-SO)… The winning team has scored three-plus goals in 16 of the last 18 games (including SO)… Pittsburgh owns all three shutouts in the series while each team has recorded three hat tricks.

This Season (CBJ, 0-1-0)

Jan. 21, 2022 – PIT 5, at CBJ 2

Feb. 27, 2012 – at Columbus (6 p.m. ET)

Mar. 22, 2012 – at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET)

Apr. 29, 2022 – at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET)

CBJ TEAM NOTES

The Blue Jackets had their season-high four-game win streak snapped with a 4-0 loss at Carolina on Friday… The club fell to 9-3-0 in its last 12 games but still rank second in the NHL in wins and points (tied) since January 27… After playing seven of their last nine games on the road, the Blue Jackets will play seven of the next eight at Nationwide Arena, including kicking off a five-game homestand on Sunday vs. Pittsburgh… The club ranks second in the NHL in goals-per-game since Jan. 27 (4.33 avg), trailing only Florida (4.44)… CBJ have scored three or more goals in 31 of their 52 games this season (24-7-0)… The club in 22-3-0 when scoring four-plus goals in a game in 2021-22, recording four-plus goals in four of the last five games… Columbus killed off three of Florida’s four power play attempts on Friday and has killed off 54-of-61 opponent chances over the last 20 games (88.5 pct.).  The club ranks third in the NHL in penalty kill pct. since January 8… CBJ lead the NHL in win percentage in OT/SO and are one off the League lead in wins (Detroit) with a 9-0-1 record (.900)… The Blue Jackets have trailed in 17 of their 27 victories this season with the club trailing by multiple goals in five of its contests.  The 17 comeback victories are tied for the NHL lead in that category (Florida and NY Rangers)… The Jackets rank fourth in the NHL in goals (30) and eighth-T in points by defensemen (121)… CBJ boast six 30-point scorers on the team… Columbus is 4-1-0 in games played on Sunday this season.

CBJ PLAYER NOTES

G J-F Berube stopped a career-high 46 shots on Friday in his first loss with the club (3-1-0, .924 SV%).  He became the second goaltender in franchise history to start his tenure with three-straight wins (Steve Mason; 2008-09)… RW Oliver Bjorkstrand has points in six of the last nine games (4-3-7)… D Adam Boqvist (10-9-19 in 39 GP) is the sixth different defenseman in Blue Jackets history to record double digit goals in a single season… C Boone Jenner had his five-game points streak (3-5-8) snapped on Friday.  He has 10-11-21 with five multi-point efforts in the last 20 contests.  CBJ’s captain leads the club in goals, points and power play goals with 22-19-41 and seven PPG in 52 appearances and is on pace to set single-season career highs in both goals and points (30-19-49 in 82 GP in 2015-16)… D Vladislav Gavrikov has collected assists in three of the last five games (0-4-4) and ranks third on the team in that category on the campaign (2-21-23 in 50 GP)… LW Patrik Laine saw his 11-game points streak (13-8-21) come to an end on Friday.  It was the second longest points streak of his career (15 GP in 2017-18) and the third longest in franchise history.  He leads the NHL in goals and points (tied) since the streak started on Jan. 27.  The winger also leads the League in overtime winners (3, tied) and ranks fifth-T in game-winners (6)… LW Gus Nyquist has tallied 9-12-21 with seven multi-point outings in the last 25 games since Dec. 16… D Andrew Peeke has played 21-plus minutes in each of the last 18 games since Jan. 13 (avg. 24:31)… RW Jakub Voracek, who had assists in four consecutive games (0-5-5) prior to Friday’s contest, ranks third-T in the NHL in primary assists (28) and leads the club in assists overall (35)… D Zach Werenski, who missed Thursday and Friday’s games with an upper body injury, has tallied 2-10-12 in his last 12 games, including points in six consecutive (2-6-8).

MILESTONES

•     RW Oliver Bjorkstrand is one goal from 100 for his NHL career (99-113-212, 352 GP).

•     C Max Domi is one goal from 100 and one point from 300 for his NHL career (99-200-299, 471 GP).

•     C Jack Roslovic is one game from 100 for his CBJ career (20-36-56, 99 GP).

OhioHEALTH INJURY REPORT

•     G Daniil Tarasov (lower body; Injured Reserve on Jan. 4) is out indefinitely

•     C Alexandre Texier (fractured finger; Injured Reserve on Jan. 26) is expected to miss 4 weeks

•     D Jake Bean (groin; Injured Reserve on Jan. 30) is expected to miss 4 weeks

•     LW Eric Robinson (knee; Injured Reserve on Jan. 31) is expected to miss 6 weeks

•     G  Joonas Korpisalo (lower body; Injured Reserve retroactive to Feb. 15) is day-to-day

•     D Zach Werenski (upper body; missed first game on Feb. 24) is day-to-day

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 204

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