Match-up - Columbus Blue Jackets (21-22-3) @ Florida Panthers (20-15-10) Road/Home records - 11-10-1 -------------- 9-8-4 TV - FS-F, FS-O Puck drop - 7:30 p.m. ET Season series - 2-0 Columbus Last 10 - Jackets: 5-5-0 ------------ Panthers: 4-5-1 Projected starting goalies - Curtis McElhinney vs Roberto Luongo
Projected lines for the Panthers via DailyFaceoff.com:
Jonathan Huberdeau - Alexsander Barkov - Brad Boyes Brandon Pirri - Nick Bjugstad - Jimmy Hayes Sean Bergenheim - Dave Bolland - Jussi Jokinen Tomas Kepecky - Derek MacKenzie - Shawn Thornton
Brian Campbell - Aaron Ekblad Willie Mitchell - Dmitry Kulikov Erik Gudbranson - Dylan Olsen
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
*Expected to return
Nick Foligno - Ryan Johansen - Cam Atkinson Scott Hartnell - Brandon Dubinsky - Josh Anderson Matt Calvert - Artem Anisimov* - Alex Wennberg Corey Tropp - Mark Letestu - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski Fedor Tyutin - Dalton Prout
Injured: Artem Anisimov, Boone Jenner, Brian Gibbons, Nathan Horton, Ryan Murray, Sergei Bobrovsky.
What to watch:
1) The Panthers are the better team at even-strength, but Columbus has the advantage when it comes to special teams. If they play a physical game and establish a good cycle game down low they should be able to generate some power plays, which would go a long way towards a win.
2) Curtis McElhinney has a highly mediocre .906SV% on the year, but he's been better of late having won four consecutive starts. Florida has one of the best goaltenders in hockey at the other end, so McElhinney will have to elevate his game to match Luongo, who probably won't allow more than two or three.
3) Columbus has had discipline issues at times this year, and it's gotten them into a lot of trouble. They can't afford to parade to the box, even though Florida's power play has struggled this season. I'm looking at you, Jared Boll.
4) Cam Atkinson entered the Washington game with just two points in 16 games, but he matched that total in the game against the Caps. The Jackets really need him to get going and produce consistently, especially with fellow right winger Jeremy Morin out of the lineup due to injury.
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