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Columbus Blue Jackets Three Keys to Winning Game 3

By Lansing Murphy |
WASHINGTOON, DC - APRIL 15:The Columbus Blue Jackets celebrate after Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Matt Calvert (11) scored the game winner in overtime during the game between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on Sunday, April 15, 2018. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Washington Capitals 5-4.(Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTOON, DC - APRIL 15:The Columbus Blue Jackets celebrate after Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Matt Calvert (11) scored the game winner in overtime during the game between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on Sunday, April 15, 2018. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Washington Capitals 5-4.(Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Columbus Blue Jackets come home for game three and can take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Home sweet home, Columbus, Ohio. Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets state in the friendly confides of Nationwide Arena with a tremendous opportunity. Having won the opening games on the road, the Jackets can take a commanding 3-0 series lead at home in front of what will be a raucous crowd.

The Jackets have won the first two games in spite of giving the Washington Capitals ample power play opportunities. That will be crucial to fix tonight if they hope to win game three. Five out of the Capitals seven goals have come on the power play this series. That is on 13 total man advantage attempts including a five minute major in game one that lead to two goals.

The Jackets can not continue to give up that many opportunities and expect to continue to win games. Giving Alex Ovechkin 10 minutes of power play time, like he had in game two, leads to a loss 95% of the time. The Jackets have to limit his time set up in the right wing circle ready to strike.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

They have dominated play at five on five and I expect they will continue to do so. But, if they want to come out on top tonight, the CBJ have to limit the Caps to less than three power play opportunities.

Bob Dominance Continues at Home

A key factor in any playoff game will be the guy between the pipes. Sergei Bobrovsky has been fantastic this series and is close to shaking off the “playoff struggles” that he has been hampered with.

Bob has a .920 save percentage this series so far in all situations. That is a great number especially considering how much time he has spent stopping power play opportunities.

It’s often easier for a goalie to start a series on the road, away from expectations, but Bob now must return to Nationwide Arena. This season Bob is a stellar 20-10-3 with a 2.18 goals against average. He also has a .929 save percentage at home; a fantastic number.

If Bob can come out and stand strong in the first period the building will start buzzing early and it could roll to a dominating win. The first 10 minutes will tell the story of how the night will unfold for Bob and the rest of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

NWA Rocking

The final key to the game is on you and me. It’s time to make NWA the worst place in the league for opposing teams to play. We’ve got a 2-0 series lead, we’ve got the cannon, and now we need to show up and make some noise.

Like most things surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets, the environment at Nationwide Arena is overlooked and under-appreciated. Everyone talks about Nashville, Winnipeg, and Vegas as incredibly tough buildings to play in, but we know every opposing skater hates to come to Columbus.

Next: CBJ vs Caps Down the Middle

Tonight, let’s show the Capitals, and the rest of the NHL, that Nationwide Arena and Columbus, Ohio is never a place you want to come. Especially when you’re down in a series two games to none and about to be down 3-0.

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