The Blue Jackets are back from their five day layoff and will continue their nine game home stand. This evening the Islanders come to Nationwide. The Islanders have played well of late and find themselves right back in the thick of the playoff race. They are 7-3-0 in their last 10 and with 68 points are in the second wild card position. The Blue Jackets were passed by the Rangers and sit in the first Wildcard spot with 79 points. The Jackets are just one point back of the Rangers and three back of Pittsburgh for third and second in the Metro division. The Jackets though have two games in hand on the Rangers and one on Pittsburgh. This is a very important game for both teams.

The bye week was supposed to give the Jackets a rest and get them healthy. Yesterday however it was learned that two Jackets players would be out with injuries. Lukas Sedlak was placed on the IR, retroactive to February 17th and Matt Calvert is out “week to week” with an oblique injury suffered against Nashville.

#CBJ have placed Sedlak on IR (retro. to 2/17). Recalled Hannikainen (emergency) & Korpisalo. Assigned Forsberg to @monstershockey .

— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) February 24, 2017

#CBJ LW Matt Calvert is out "week to week" with an oblique strain suffered in Sunday's loss to #Preds

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 24, 2017

Since Sedlak hasn’t played a game since the 17th he is eligible to come off the IR at any point. He could theoretically play in tonight’s game. With those two players out the Jackets recalled Markus Hannikainen for about the millionth time, and shook up the lines.

#CBJ lines:
Foligno-Wennberg-Bjorkstrand
Jenner-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Hannikainen-Karlsson-Anderson
Saad-Gagner-Hartnell.

— Tom Reed (@treed1919) February 24, 2017

These lines are really interesting. Hannikainen goes right to third line where Nick Folingo had been playing. Folingo moves to the top line, which bumps Brandon Saad down to the fourth line to replace Sedlak.

It’s hard to understand moving Saad around. He and Wennberg have been together all season and have been the Jackets best line by far. Ideally this is just an effort to get Sam Gagner going. Gagner is not a good defensive player which is why he was on the fourth line to begin with, but he was also shifted to the wing for that same reason. Now with Sedlak out Gagner is forced to move back to centre where his defensive deficiencies may be exposed. By putting him with Saad this should help take some of the pressure off of him.

What the Jackets have done here is continue to spread out the talent and have four good lines that can play in any situation. That should give them an edge tonight against the Isles. The Isles have a great top line featuring John Tavares but their depth after him is a little suspect. John Tortorella has to use that and line match where he can to take advantage. If he can do that there is no reason the Jackets shouldn’t come out of this game with two points.

You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot

Join the Discussion: » 6 Comments » Post New Comment

» Blue Jackets extend John Tortorella

» Blue Jackets extend Hockey Operations Staff

» Thoughts on the Blue Jackets Traverse City roster

» How the Blue Jackets can get more national coverage

» Just how bad is the Blue Jackets prospect system?