Just like everyone expected at the start of the season, tonights Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers game is monumental.
Hockey is an odd sport. Weird equipment, odd terminology, and funny bounces all play a huge role in this game. Just as odd is that perhaps the biggest game of the season is tonight’s matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers.
These two very untraditional hockey teams are red hot right now and surging towards the playoffs. The Columbus Blue Jackets nine game winning streak has them threatening not only a playoff spot, but the top of the Metropolitan division. The Florida Panthers might be the only hotter team in the NHL. Since February they have been almost unbeatable.
Tonight in Columbus they eyes of the hockey world will get to see if Artemi Panarin can continue scoring at a crazy high rate. Tuesday night he had a hat trick against the Rangers and added an assist.
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A premier goalie matchup is also in store tonight for NHL fans around the continent that will be tuned in to the game. Roberto Luongo and Sergei Bobrovsky are two of the three best goalie in the League since the trade deadline along with Pekka Rinne. Luongo has put the Panthers on his back and been a star. Bob has been typical Bob, posting a .930 save percentage in his last eight starts.
Jackets Shoot for History
A win would give the Columbus Blue Jackets 10 straight wins. It would be the first time in NHL history that a franchise has had 10 game winning streaks in back-to-back seasons.
They would also join a select group of clubs that have two 10 game winning streaks in their entire history. The Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins being the only others to accomplish such a feat.
The game though has bigger implications on the future than the past. With a win, the Jackets would certainly cement a spot in the playoffs. A Panther win would put them in a great position to make the postseason as they still would have at least two games in hand on the teams they are chasing.
Next: What the D-Corps Should look like
It’s going to be a fun, and historic, one in central Ohio tonight for sure.