The Blue Jackets are in a precarious position.
They've lost five straight and hold the Eastern Conference's final wild card position as the season hits the stretch run, just before the NHL trade deadline (Feb. 25). They have a mere three-point cushion over the Carolina Hurricanes, who are charging hard and trying to make this interesting. The Blue Jackets have done their part to make it interesting with their longest losing streak in a calendar year.
When the puck drops at Pepsi Center tonight, two teams with untimely losing streaks (Colorado has lost three straight) will attempt to get back on track. This should be an entertaining game in Denver between two desperate teams.
The Blue Jackets have made some significant changes to their forward lines, as you'll see below (shout-out to Jeff Svoboda for the report from Denver). We won't know the identity of the starting goaltender until later today, so for now, we're going with Bobrovsky.
PROJECTED LINES:
Foligno – Dubois – Atkinson
Panarin – Wennberg – Bjorkstrand
Duclair – Jenner – Anderson
Hannikainen – Dubinsky* – Nash
DEFENSEMEN:
Murray – Jones
Werenski – Savard
Harrington – Nutivaara
GOALTENDER:
Bobrovsky
Storylines:
- John Tortorella is frustrated with his team, no doubt, but he's sticking with the guys he thinks can get them out of it. Alexander Wennberg played 21 minutes in Saturday's loss to St. Louis and Anthony Duclair will get a shot with Boone Jenner tonight, provided the latter is ready to play.
- Brandon Dubinsky left practice early on Monday, per multiple reports, and his availability for tonight is unknown. Ryan Murray did not practice and his status is up in the air for tonight, as well.
