Match-up - Pittsburgh Penguins (1-1) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1) Road/Home records - 0-0 -------------- 0-0 TV - NBCSN, CBC, ROOT, FS-Ohio, RDS2 Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - Tied 1-1 Starting goalies - Fleury (1-1, 2.98GAA, .911SV%) vs Bobrovsky (1-1, 3.00, .905SV%)
Projected lines for the Penguins:
*day-to-day, likely will not play
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Lee Stempniak Jussi Jokinen - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal Beau Bennett - Brandon Sutter - Brian Gibbons* Tanner Glass - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams
Brooks Orpik - Paul Martin Rob Scuderi - Kris Letang Olli Maatta - Matt Niskanen
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
*Questionable, Prout or Schultz will play if he can't
Boone Jenner - Ryan Johansen - Jack Skille Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson R.J. Umberger - Artem Anisimov - Nick Foligno Derek MacKenzie - Mark Letestu - Blake Comeau/Corey Tropp
Fedor Tyutin* - Jack Johnson Ryan Murray - James Wisniewski Nikita Nikitin - David Savard
Notes:
- Crosby and Malkin have five points combined through two games, but they've yet to score and they've almost been quiet to this point. It's only a matter of time before they breakthrough and find the net, so the Blue Jackets will need to stay disciplined, continue to play them physical and make Crosby and Malkin beat them. If Columbus spoon feeds them chances, they're going to pay for it sooner than later.
- Bobrovsky has been very good at even strength, posting a .949 save percentage in that situation thus far in the series. They need to keep things 5 vs 5 and avoid making life more difficult for Bobrovsky than it needs to be.
- Nationwide arena will be fired up like never before. This is the best team Columbus fans have ever had, and they'll be sure to let the Blue Jackets know it. The Blue Jackets are going to come out fired up and likely generate quite a few chances, so they'll need to capitalize early. Columbus can't afford to allow Pittsburgh to weather the storm and hang around. An early lead would really help the Blue Jackets settle in.
- The Penguins' depth up front is nearly non-existent. With the Blue Jackets now having home ice, Todd Richards will be able to get the matchups he wants. He needs to take advantage of that.
- Marc-Andre Fleury has played well in this series thus far, but he can be exploited. The key against Fleury is to throw pucks at his feet, work the puck down low, and behind the net. He has a tendency to lose sight of the puck when it's behind him, and that often causes problems, which leads to goals against. Something to watch for in Game 3 and throughout the series.
**