The stage is set and the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are ready. How ready? Let’s delve in and see.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have had plenty of injury issues throughout the season. It seems many of those issues are remedying themselves just in time for the post season. As of yesterday, the Jackets have updated the status of both defenseman Ryan Murray, and center Lukas Sedlak, as day-to-day.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Murray broke his hand blocking a shot against the Buffalo Sabres almost exactly one month ago. His original time table for return was 4-6 weeks, putting him right in the wheelhouse for expected return. I fully expect to see him at some point during this series.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sedlak has only played in 62 games this season after missing 13 games, and then another seven games with an upper body injury. He plays a slightly smaller role on this Jackets team than Murray, but it would certainly be a big addition to their lineup.
In other good news, the Columbus Blue Jackets will welcome back Zach Werenski to the lineup. Columbus Dispatch’ Aaron Portzline reported that Werenski skated with the team at practice on Tuesday and is expected to play tonight in game one. The return of Werenski is the best news CBJ fans could ask for.
Flightless Tuxedo Birds
The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be welcoming back a few key players for this first round matchup. Defensemen Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley will return to the ice for the first time in two months.
The top tier defensemen will be paired together on the third unit- I’m interested to see if they’ll jump right back in at full steam or if they’ll see abbreviated playing time. I have to imagine Sullivan uses them as much as he normally would.
Even more notable than that is the return of superstar forward Evgeni Malkin. After missing the final 13 games of the regular season he will be back in the lineup tonight. He will be surrounded with talent too, as we will see Bryan Rust and Phil Kessel on his wings. Expect big things from this line.
In unfortunate news from the Pittsburgh locker room, they will be without defenseman Kris Letang for the duration of the playoffs, as announced last week. The defenseman suffered a herniated disk in his neck and it was recently determined he will need surgery for that injury. This is a huge blow to the back six for Pittsburgh as Letang was not only one of their best defensemen but also one of the defensemen best at pushing the pace offensively.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins return some key players to the ice tonight, but expect Pittsburgh’s to have a bigger impact. With Malkin rejoining his team, expect at least a few goals from him this series. An even bigger impact than that- the loss of Kris Letang. This is going to be a series altering void that the Blue Jackets will need to exploit if they want to win.