The Jackets have been dealing with injuries up front with three regulars out of the line-up. Their depth has been tested but the emergence of Oliver Bjorkstrand and the trade for Lauri Korpikoski helped keep the Jackets on track. Korpikosi and TJ Tynan have been filling in on the bottom six and while they have been serviceable they don’t give the Jackets the same advantage when the team is fully healthy. The good news though is that help is on the way both Matt Calvert and Josh Anderson are set to return to the line-up tonight.
#CBJ LW Matt Calvert and RW Josh Anderson appear set to return tonight vs. #Flyers
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 13, 2017
In order to make room on the roster, Tynan has been sent back down to Cleveland. Getting these two players back is a big boost. Calvert plays a big role on the penalty kill and while the team didn’t struggle on the PK in his absence they did allow two power play goals in their last game against the Sabres. It will be good to have Calvert back in the fold.
It’s been mentioned numerous times before but Anderson is a fantastic depth player. He’s the perfect fit on the Blue Jackets as he brings skill so the team can roll four skilled lines, but he also brings physicality and won’t be pushed around by other teams’ bottom six players that aren’t as skilled. He plays almost exclusively at 5 on 5 where he has scored 13 of his 14 goals. Those 13 5 on 5 goals are third on the team behind Brandon Saad and Cam Atkinson. Per Stats.Hockey Analysis Anderson has a 1.07 goals per 60 at 5 on 5, third on the team behind Saad’s 1.09 and Bjorkstrand’s 1.48 in 17 games.
He admittedly hasn’t been the best possession player, just a 46.2% Corsi, but when he's been on the ice the Jackets have been scoring goals. Anderson has a 56.6% goals for percentage, which is quite good, ranking 7th among Jacket forwards.
*** Nick Foligno is a game-time decision tonight as he is ill.
#CBJ Nick Foligno is ill. Game-time decision tonight vs. #Flyers
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 13, 2017
Korpikoski took his spot alongside Saad and Alexander Wennberg at the morning skate but it remains to be seen if that will be a line come game time. Ideally a line of Saad, Wennberg, Bjorkstrand would be put together. That gives the Jackets an excellent top line and one that can go up against a Cladue Giroux, Jakub Voracek line.
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