The final fight happens tonight with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins to close out both teams’ regular seasons, at the Consol Energy Center at 7:00pm EST on Fox Sports Ohio and ROOTS.
Columbus is coming off their final home again in a 5-2 victory over the reigning and defending back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions— the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jakub Voracek; Cole Sillinger; Jack Roslovic; Oliver Bjorkstrand; and Andrew Peeke had the goals for the Union Blue. Elvis Merzlikins had 25 saves in the home closer. Kent Johnson; Gabriel Carlsson; Dean Kukan; Gustav Nyquist; Jake Bean; and Bjorkstrand had assists on 4 of the 5 goals; Bjorkstrand was the only player to record a multi-point game for the Jackets.
Pittsburgh last played on Tuesday night in a 5-1 loss to the red hot Edmonton Oilers, where former Jackets’ center Jeff Carter had the lone goal for the Pens; Casey DeSmith allowed 4 goals on 41 shots.
Crosby and company have won all three matchups against Columbus this season, outscoring their counterparts 13-5. Pittsburgh is resting some players due to injury including Jason Zucker on offense and Tristan Jarry in the net. Pittsburgh must win to clinch play the Rangers in round one; or hope both them and Washington don’t obtain a point to remain in their standing. If Pittsburgh loses in regulation and Washington wins in any fashion, the Penguins get the Panthers instead of the Rangers.
Columbus is sitting Merzlikins in the final game for Jean-Francois Berube in what may be his final game as a Blue Jackets’ member. The same could be said for defenseman Dean Kukan and forward Brendan Gaunce, as all three are pending UFAs. Due to injuries, the Blue Jackets close their final game of their year without Patrik Laine; Alexandre Texier; Boone Jenner; Zach Werenski; Nick Blankenburg; Adam Boqvist; and Sean Kuraly. If Columbus wins in regulation and Washington wins in any fashion; they hand Pittsburgh the potential President’s Trophy winning Florida Panthers; however, if Pittsburgh beats Columbus or gets a point, they get the Rangers.
Projected Lineups
Pittsburgh Penguins
Jake Guentzel—Sidney Crosby— Bryan Rust Danton Heinen—Evgeni Malkin—Rickard Rakell Brock McGinn—Jeff Carter—Kasperi Kapanen Brian Boyle—Teddy Bleuger—Evan Rodrigues
Brian Dummolin—Kris Letang Mike Matheson—Chad Ruhwedel Marcus Petterson—John Marino
Casey DeSmith Louis Domingue
Scratched— Mark Friedman Injured— Tristian Jarry, Jason Zucker, Nathan Beaulieu
Columbus Blue Jackets
Gustav Nyquist—Jack Roslovic—Jakub Voracek Yegor Chinakov—Cole Sillinger—Oliver Bjorkstrand Eric Robinson—Justin Danforth—Emil Bemstrom Kent Johnson—Brendan Gaunce—Carson Meyer
Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke Dean Kukan—Jake Bean Gavin Bayreuther—Gabriel Carlsson
Jean-Francois Berube Elvis Merzlikins
Injured— Boone Jenner, Nathan Gerbe, Zach Werenski, Adam Boqvist, Nick Blankenburg, Alexandre Texier, Sean Kuraly, Patrik Laine
Players to Watch
Pittsburgh — Jake Guentzel— 3 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games; the top line winger has 40 goals and 83 points in 70 games this season, surpassing his career high of 76 in 2018-19. The 27-year old is only in the middle of his prime and may be their best player in 5 years or so.
Columbus — Jakub Voracek— the ex-Flyer needs more respect for his work in his first year back with the Jackets, and being part of why they have done better than expectations in the first season under new coaching. The Czechia native has put up the most points in a season since the 2018-19 season, with 60 points. Of the 60, 54 are assists, meaning 90% of his season was helping his teammates.
More to come…