Game Preview: Blue Jackets Hockey Returns From Break Thursday When Olympians Werenski, Merzlikins Face Bruins

For the first time in 22 days, the Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-7) hit the ice Thursday as they continue their playoff push with a key matchup against the Boston Bruins (32-20-6).

The Blue Jackets, on a seven-game winning streak, are within four points of two potential playoff spots: third place in the Metropolitan division, and the second wild card spot. 

The Bruins are the current owner of said wild card spot.

Here are five things to know before the 7:00 p.m. puck-drop:

• As David Pastrňák and Morgan Geekie go, so go the Bruins. They have 71 and 54 points, respectively, while no other Bruin has yet the 40-point mark. The duo has also combined for 28% of Boston's goals this season. ... Former Blue Jacket Joonas Korpisalo starts Thursday for Boston. He's 10-8-2 this season with a 3.15 goals against average and .893 save percentage. ... Four of the Bruins' last five games before the break went into overtime, and the Bruins were 2-0-3 in those games. Overall, they have points in 13 of their 14 games.
   
• Zach Werenski will play and Elvis Merzlikins is in line to get the start, head coach Rick Bowness told 97.1 The Fan on Thursday morning. Both players were part of their home countries Olympic team, with Werenski, of course, picking up the golden assist in Team USA's 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada on Sunday morning. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy also won gold with the United States. 
   
• Bowness said the team (with the exception of Werenski) practiced six times in eight days leading into this game. There was an emphasis on special teams and late-game/overtime situations. Defenseman Dante Fabbro said this is the perfect game to remind them of what's to come. "I think going into a hostile environment with a team we’re chasing, it’s just the kind of thing we need to get back into it. You use that as motivation," said Fabbro. 
   
• Let's hope Charlie Coyle can keep up what he was doing before the pause: the veteran had nine goals and eight assists (17 points) in the past 12 games. He's been one of the best players on the ice for Columbus since Bowness took over as head coach in early January.
   
• The break was a calm period for the Blue Jackets, with no one getting hurt or coming back — so lineups will look pretty similar to before the pause. Here are the complete lineup projections: