The Blue Jackets' California road trip has not gone as planned. They lost to both the Kings and Ducks and neither game was particularly close. They now have one more chance to salvage this trip with a game against the Sharks tonight, and to save this trip from being a complete disaster.
Here’s what’s ahead tonight:
Matchup:
Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks
SAP Center, 9:00p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Ohio
What to Watch for:
- The special teams battle. The Blue Jackets power play is bad enough when they aren’t scoring. Recently they haven’t been scoring, but they have also been getting scored upon. Both the Kings and Ducks took advantage of the Jackets power play and scored a shorthanded goal. Things don’t get any easier against the Sharks; they have the league’s best penalty kill and have scored seven shorthanded goals. The Jackets cannot afford to take it lightly when they get a power play.
- Sonny Milano looks to stay hot in sunny California. In the three games since the trade deadline, Milano has been the Blue Jackets' best player. He’s had seven shots, scored twice, at 5-on-5 he's had four high-danger chances and been on the ice for 13. He also leads the team with a 68.75% Corsi, all this while averaging 16:38, well above his season average of 11:20.
- It’s only been two games, but Evander Kane appears to be fitting in with his new team. He was brought in to be a goal scorer but he’s taken a page from Joe Thornton and has been an assist artist, with three in two games. He’s played on the Sharks top line with Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi and has fit in very well. On top of his point production, Kane has been a strong possession player with a 56.34% Corsi.
Tale of the Tape:
Sharks
35-21-9
PP: 21.3 (7th) / PK: 84.5% (1st)
5v5 Corsi: 51.06% (14th)
Blue Jackets
32-28-5
PP: 14.8% (30th) / PK: 76.5% (27th)
5v5 Corsi: 51.74% (6th)
