Scouting Report: Get Dumped Then, Pittsburgh

Columbus Blue Jackets (21-13-1) at Pittsburgh Penguins (17-15-3)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017, 7 p.m. (PPG PAINTS ARENA)

As much as we try to stick to a certain format here at 1st Ohio Battery for each game, well, let's admit it – this one feels a little different, doesn't it?

Pittsburgh is on the schedule for the first time this year, and the rivalry (yes, it is one when you battle in the same division and meet twice in four playoff seasons) is back.

On one hand, it feels good. It's felt like it's been too deep into the season before playing the Pens, and whether it's the proximity of the teams, the playoff series or the ubiquity of Pittsburgh fans in Ohio, it's nice to have a game like this to get you fired up.

At the same time, Jackets fans have to be saying "ugh." We know what happened in 2014. We know what happened in 2017. We've asked for a beer and been offered an Iron City. These indignities cannot stand.

So, in the words of the great D.J. Byrnes, get dumped then, Pittsburgh. 

Wait, Pittsburgh is under .500?

Yes. How did this happen? Well, there's been injuries, most notably to goaltender Matt Murray, who essentially entered the year with no backup, leading to an obvious problem. The Pens are 22nd in the league in goals against, ceding 3.2 per game. But perhaps more confounding are the struggles up front, with Pittsburgh 16th in the NHL with 2.9 goals per game – this despite the fourth-best power play in the league. But while Phil Kessel (38 points), Sidney Crosby (33) and Evgeni Malkin (31) have scored with the usual aplomb, scoring depth has been nearly nonexistent from the bottom two lines and the blue line. The squad has gone 2-5-0 in its last seven, though four of the losses were by a single goal. The outlier? A 4-2 loss at Colorado on Monday night after which the team's passion was questioned by head coach Mike Sullivan. That's certainly interesting.

You Oughta Know: Phil Kessel

I mean, people probably goof on him too much, but it's always worth remembering this magnificent specimen, with 15 goals and 23 points in 35 games, is among the best players in the world.

Phil Kessel, y'all.

Fast Facts

• Patric Hornqvist has 21 points in 31 games this year (11 goals, 10 assists) but missed the last game with an upper-body injury. He practiced Wednesday.
• Pittsburgh leads the NHL in shots on goal per game with 34.9.
• The Pens have scored five shorthanded goals but not allowed one on the season.

Previous Matchups

THIS YEAR: First meeting.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Columbus is 12-15-0-4.

Keys to the Game

ONE: Jump out early. Pittsburgh is 10-0-1 when leading after one period, and yes, it's a lot easier to win when you're up after one, but think about that. Just one team has staged a comeback after being just 33 percent of the way through the game. It would do Columbus well to start strong, especially with the Pens smarting from the last loss.

TWO: Get a power-play goal. OK, we always mention this, but scoring with the man advantage can often be the difference between winning and losing. That might especially be so tonight as the Pens have given up exactly one power-play goal this month.

THREE: Play with an edge. Columbus has met Pittsburgh plenty of times over the past four years, and they say familiarity can breed contempt. This game is often determined by which team shows up with a chip on its shoulder, and tonight should be no different.

Was it a catch Sunday?

If it was, Pittsburgh would have won, right?

Penguins Projected Lineup

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