Match-up - Columbus Blue Jackets (2-2) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2) Road/Home records - 1-1 -------------- 1-1 TV - NBCSN, CBC, ROOT, FS-Ohio, RDS Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Series - Tied 2-2 Starting goalies - Bobrovsky (2-2, 3.22, .900SV%) vs Fleury (2-2, 3.18GAA, .903SV%)
Projected lines for the Penguins:
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Lee Stempniak Jussi Jokinen - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal Beau Bennett - Brandon Sutter - Jayson Megna Tanner Glass - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams
Brooks Orpik - Paul Martin Rob Scuderi - Kris Letang Olli Maatta - Matt Niskanen
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Boone Jenner - Ryan Johansen - Nick Foligno Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson R.J. Umberger - Artem Anisimov - Jack Skille Derek MacKenzie - Mark Letestu - Blake Comeau
Fedor Tyutin - Jack Johnson Nikita Nikitin - James Wisniewski Dalton Prout - David Savard
Notes:
- Tyutin is expected to draw back in after missing the last two games. With he and Murray out, Jack Johnson and James Wisniewski had been playing ridiculously heavy minutes. Tyutin will be a welcome addition back, and should be able to shoulder some of the workload off those two.
- Marc-Andre Fleury's proved to be a very fragile goaltender over the years, especially in the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how he responds to his first real adversity this post-season. If I'm not mistaken he had been seeing a sports phycologist to help keep mentally strong. Let's see if it pays off.
- Brandon Dubinsky has points in all four games this series, including two points in consecutive games. He's been outstanding for Columbus this post-season, but he'll need to keep producing if the Jackets want to win this series.
- Paul Martin: averaging about 26 minutes this series and has two assists in each game thus far. How does this guy not get more credit?
- Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have had their moments, but neither of them have been able to get going like we know they can. That won't last forever, so Columbus needs to be sure they limit the opportunities 87/71 get. If Columbus parades to the penalty box taking bad penalties, miss checks while trying to be overly physical, etc. they'll be in trouble.
**
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: NHLToddCordell@Gmail.com