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Columbus Blue Jackets: Do-or-Die Time in Game Six

By Lansing Murphy |
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno (71) during a pause in the action during the first round Stanley Cup playoff game 5 between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 21, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno (71) during a pause in the action during the first round Stanley Cup playoff game 5 between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 21, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Columbus Blue Jackets look to force a game seven in D.C. with a win at home.

Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets season is on the line. Following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday, the Blue Jackets are on the brink of elimination tonight in game six.

The Jackets should be feeling confident coming back to home ice. Although they did lose their first two home games of this series, they have been solid at Nationwide Arena all season. It will be tough for the Capitals to win three straight games in Columbus and take four in row from them as well.

Coach John Tortorella certainly has confidence in his squad. After game five he guaranteed a game six win in his press conference. “We’ll be back here for game seven” the coach proclaimed after the overtime loss in our nation’s capital.

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The validity of the claim will be decided by the Columbus Blue Jackets ability to stay out of the penalty box. The Jackets have allowed a power play goal in every single game thus far and it has been the difference in the series. With every game but one going to overtime, those power play goals have been the reason the Caps are up three games to two on the CBJ.

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets /

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets

Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson

Jenner – Foligno – Vanek

Calvert – Dubinsky – Anderson

Bjorkstrand – Letestu – Milano

Werenski – Jones

Cole – Savard

Murray – Nutivaara

Bobrovsky

Washington Capitals

Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Wilson

Stephenson – Backstrom – Oshie

Connolly – Eller – Smith-Pelly

Vrana – Beagle – Chaisson

Orlov – Niskanen

Kempny – Carlson

Orpik – Djoos

Holtby

The lineups should be the same tonight as they have been all series. This Jackets squad has it in them to win two games in a row against the Capitals and proved that in the games one and two.

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They also know how to play well with their backs against the wall. They were in do-or-die mode for the entire month of March and their play propelled them to the playoffs. The Jackets will rely on their experience from the late season push to get them through this must win game six at home. I expect them to bring the home crowd a victory and force the Capitals into a seventh game.

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