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Columbus Blue Jackets Look to Rebound Against Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two

By Steven Perkins

Apr 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Brandon Saad (20) handles the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defends the net during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Brandon Saad (20) handles the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defends the net during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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 After a disappointing game one outcome, the Columbus Blue Jackets take back to the ice in Pittsburgh. This big game two will be dictated by the Jackets ability to get pucks to the middle and capitalize on chances. The Blue Jackets put up a good fight in game one but ultimately came up short, falling to the Penguins by a count of 3-1.

Getting to the Middle

As the Columbus Blue Jackets return to the ice on the road, they’ll need to generate better opportunities for scoring chances. The Jackets looked weak on Wednesday, struggling to get to the high percentage scoring areas. Outside of a strong first period, the Jackets lacked the ability to get to the dirty areas. But it’s not time to panic just yet.

After 20 minutes, Columbus held a 16-3 lead in shots. Nonetheless, the frame ended scoreless. This was due mostly to shots coming from bad angles, and too far out. That’s something the Jackets plan to change tonight. In a lot of his comments, head coach John Tortorella preached getting inside and making the most out of their time in the offensive zone.

Players to Watch

I’m calling this one now: Brandon Saad has a breakout game tonight. Saad’s minutes were cut down to just 14 and change on Wednesday with an embarrassing amount of time in the third. Saad is a dynamic forward who needs to help drive the offense. He only had one shot in game one so look for him to respond to that and come out flying early tonight. He’ll be out with Alex Wennberg and Nick Foligno, a line that is sure to produce in game two.

It’s the story of game one — Marc-Andre Fleury‘s excellent game after getting the surprise start due to Matt Murray’s injury during warmups. Fleury made 31 saves on 32 shots. Fleury is a world-class athlete, seen by his ability to jump right into game one and put on that kind of performance. Look for him to be just as impactful tonight. Goals for the Columbus Blue Jackets are not going to come easy.

This is going to be a Boone Jenner kind of game. What do I mean by that? It’s going to be gritty and physical and it’s going to require someone to plant themselves in front of Fleury. Expect Jenner to step up big as a role player tonight. Laying some hits and just grinding it out in some of the dirty areas as he’s known to do. The Jackets had trouble getting into the middle in game one, and it’s a veteran like Jenner that’s going to help fix that tonight. Look for him to drive ahead of the puck in the zone creating lanes for shooters. Don’t be surprised to see him get decent power play minutes either.

Closing Thoughts

I definitely think the Jackets are going to steal this one on the road. They did a lot of things right on Wednesday and if they can build off that, they’ll find success. Look for the scorers to compliment the grinders today instead of the other way around. Big bodies in the corners and in front will create space for scorers. Also expect key players to step up and contribute a little more tonight than they did in game one. Jackets over Penguins 2-1.

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