Columbus Blue Jackets Visit Carolina Hurricanes in First 2019 Game

The Columbus Blue Jackets are set for their first game of the new year as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in a divisional game which could have big implications going forward.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are hoping some of their resolutions for 2019 come true as the year officially starts for the team tonight. The number one resolution they’re hoping comes true? An effective power play, which may be difficult against a team with a defensive corps like the Hurricanes.

Rod Brind’Amour‘s squad has struggled to this point in the season, however with just over half of the season remaining, they have plenty of time and the ability to catch fire and somehow sneak into a playoff spot.

Meanwhile in Columbus, John Tortorella’s team is coming off a month of ups and downs which started off slow but ended fairly well. It had the Blue Jackets’ biggest win streak of the season, a five game win streak and despite a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs ending the streak they would defeat the Ottawa Senators to end the month on a high note.

With the Metropolitan divison All-Stars recently being announced, there will be three in this game. Columbus’s Cam Atkinson and Seth Jones as well as Carolina’s Sebastian Aho.

According to DailyFaceoff, the starting goaltenders are predicted to be Sergei Bobrovsky and a former Blue Jacket in Curtis McElhinney. Some other players to keep an eye on for Carolina include Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov, Dougie Hamilton and Jaccob Slavin among others.

While on paper this is a game that the Columbus Blue Jackets should win, it won’t be an easy victory by any means. Carolina needs to have a strong second half if they want to make a playoff push and that will start tonight. Meanwhile Columbus needs to keep up their first half pace and they should easily make the playoffs.