Final Score: Predators 4 – Blue Jackets 2
Game Summary
With a playoff spot locked up the Jackets focus in this game was to rest their stars and make sure everyone is rested for the playoffs. The Jackets sat Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg and Lukas Sedlak up front and Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, Markus Nutivaara and Zach Werenski on defence. They also sat Sergei Bobrovsky giving Joonas Korpisalo the start.
In their place the Jackets inserted Eric Robinson and Alex Broadhurt into the line-up. Robinson was making his NHL debut. On defence the Jackets put in Dean Kukan, making his return from injury and Taylor Chorney, his first game as a Blue Jacket since getting claimed on waivers at the trade deadline.
The Jackets wanted to rest their stars but there was another motive for dressing a less than ideal line-up against the Predators. With the Penguins winning on Friday they had clinched the second spot in the Metro division. The Jackets by losing would be able to get the first wild card spot and avoid Pittsburgh in the first round. This was easier said than done, the Jackets needed the Flyers to win and the Devils to also lose. All those things somehow happened and the Jackets finished in the first Wild Card spot and have a date with the Washington Capitals in the first round.
The Jackets fell behind early, but were not going to roll over and die. Josh Anderson got the Jackets on the board, with his first goal since returning from injury.
It was good to see Anderson get a goal in this game. Being out for so long he needed these past two games to get himself back and shake some of the rust off. I don’t expect him to have a big role in the playoffs, but his physical play and depth scoring will be needed.
The Jackets second goal was scored by another player who needed a goal, Brandon Dubinsky.
Dubinsky has had a tough year, battling injuries and losing his spot in the line-up. He is another player who won’t have a big role in the playoffs but when he’s called upon he will be ready.
The Jackets finish with the second best record in club history at 45-30-7, 97 points. They will face Washington in the first round, the first time these two teams will be meeting in the playoffs.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of
Natural Stat Trick and
Hockey-Reference.
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