The Columbus Blue Jackets need something to break their way.
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| VANCOUVER CANUCKS |
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34–23–6 (74 points) ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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7 P.M. – SUNDAY, MARCH 1 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OHIO |
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FOX SPORTS OHIO FOX SPORTS GO |
I suppose you could say that the team has been getting a little bit of one for still competing despite all of the injuries.
Thus far, the Blue Jackets have not been getting much of a break otherwise. The team needs a win in the worst way to get their season back on track.
Definitively against the Minnesota Wild, they did not get one after losing the game by a score of 5-0. The team frankly went out without much of a whimper.
The team is getting players back bit by bit, though. You would be led to believe that it would motivate the team. But against a Canucks team that is also looking for better positioning in the playoffs, it is going to be a tough road ahead.
The Canucks aren't going to just give points to the Blue Jackets. This is going to be a scratch and claw game, and we should hope that Columbus is up to the task.
Here's a look at tonight's projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Forwards
Nyquist–Dubois–Matteau
Foligno–Jenner–Gerbe
Stenlund–Wennberg-Bemstrom
Shore–Nash–Robinson
Defensemen
Werenski–Nutivaara
Gavrikov–Savard
Murray–Peeke
Goaltender: Korpisalo
Storylines
- Murr Baby. The Blue Jackets have activated Ryan Murray off of injured reserve and that means that he can play as soon as this Sunday against the Canucks. Many will be wary about whether or not he will be able to last the rest of the season. There is no question that the team is better when he is in the lineup but having him in the lineup is much tougher than you think.
- Offensive Woes. After the goose egg that the Blue Jackets put up against the Minnesota Wild on Friday, it means that the team needs to come up with something better than they did before. They had Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash return to the lineup but it didn't change much of anything. That needs to change and quickly before the season slips away.
- Time's a Wasting. The Blue Jackets have been playing with an AHL lineup for a while. Now that NHL players are starting to return to the lineup, it will be interesting to see how exactly they mesh with one another. This should push NHL players to perform at a higher level yet it will be interesting to see what entitlement it will give to the players who were previously in the league.
