Clinching tonight is simple for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Win and hope for a Nashville win and you’re in.
For the first time in their 18 year existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets could be headed to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Hard to believe in a league where over half of the teams get to postseason play but thats been the life of the CBJ thus far.
Tonight they can continue to write new pages in the mostly sad history books of the franchise. With a win and a Nashville win in any manner, the Columbus Blue Jackets will clinch a playoff spot.
The season started with expectations of making the playoffs, and winning a playoff round. But that didn’t seem very likely in the depths of winter when the Jackets were slogging through January and February.
Underrated trade deadline acquisitions propelled this team to a 10 game winning streak in March and are now playing like the team we expected to see when the season started.
The Jackets will look to clinch against a down Detroit Red Wings team that, with just three games left in the season, could be looking ahead to summer vacation. Although they have won three in a row, before that the Wings were 1-12-1 in their last 14 games. This team is not very good and shouldn’t be a problem for the Jackets who are rolling.
CBJ Injuries
The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to seal their playoff fate without the services of Markus Nutivaara, Josh Anderson, and Nick Foligno. Nuti will sit with an injury sustained in the Vancouver game and be replaced by Jack Johnson.
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Anderson is close to returning but the Jackets aren’t rushing anything with their solid place in the standings. And the captain is working on his recovery but his status for the playoffs is still not know.
Sergei Bobrovksy should start and the Wings will put Jimmy Howard in net. It will be Howard’s 4th game in seven days. Backup Jared Coreau was supposed to start but he has the flu according to Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News.
The Wings top weapon, Dylan Larkin has been hot with five points in his last three games. Look out for the college teammate of Zach Werenski.
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Puck drops at 7pm at Nationwide Arena on what is hopefully an historic evening for the Columbus Blue Jackets.