Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets return to the friendly ice of Nationwide Arena on Monday to take on the Boston Bruins. The game is the only home game in the next four contest for the CBJ.

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the evening 7-4-0 and in third place in the Metropolitan division. Their fourth loss was suffered in Saturday nights game against the West leading St. Louis Blues in Missouri.

Not many people were watching, especially in Columbus. The Ohio State Buckeyes had just completed their upset of #2 Penn State in the Shoe and many were basking in that win instead of tuning in.

It seemed as though the Columbus Blue Jackets weren’t tuned in either as they lost 4-1 in the second game of a back-to-back. The Jackets didn’t look like themselves and will look to recover against the Bruins.

The Jackets face a three game road trip following their tilt against the Boston Bruins. Getting two points on home ice before traveling to Florida and New York is going to be critical to keep pace as the season heads into November.

Dinged Up Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the game with some players dinged up. Notably Cam Atkinson who will miss tonights match-up following the St. Louis game.

There is no timetable yet for Atkinson to return but the club has recalled Tyler Motte. This is a sign that Cam will miss more than just tonights game against the Bruins.

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Cam joins Lukas Sedlak and Gabrielle Carlsson as the list of injured Jackets continues to grow. The missed games by these valuable players is really testing the depth of not just the Columbus Blue Jackets, but of all levels of the organization.

Tyler Motte has an opportunity to prove himself though at the NHL level after a hot start in Cleveland. He recently scored a hat trick for the Monsters and is leading the team in goals.

The Cam Atkinson injury really hurts the team though as it appeared Torts had finally found some lines he liked. That included moving Cam away from Panarin and Wennberg. The lines now will likely continue to be in flux as the Jackets work Motte, or Markus Hännikäinen into the lineup.

Game Prediction

This game, like many the Jackets play, is going to come down to whether Bob can outplay the opposing goalie. Tuuka Rask is a top 10 goalie in the NHL, no doubt. He has proven that over the last few NHL seasons and can shut down an opposing team.

The Jackets are having trouble manufacturing offense. They have only scored three goals in the last two games. Granted, Jake Allen played fantastic and Steve Mason made some big saves as well.

But the power play is still a concern and the goals just aren’t coming. It isn’t going to be any easier to produce goals with Cam Atkinson injured.

That said the Jackets have been in Columbus for a few days and know they have a tough road trip ahead of them. The need these points to get off to a good start and will come out ready to play. Their typical first period sluggishness won’t hamper them tonight and they will come out firing.

I see the Jackets really taking it to Rask and chasing him from the ice. Big Jackets win 5-1 tonight in Nationwide Arena.