The Blue Jackets will hope to turn the tides tonight in Raleigh. They head in to face the Carolina Hurricanes after two frustrating losses over the weekend.
Having won just one game in regulation out of their last 12, this is another vital two points in the standings that are up for grabs against a team the Jackets need to keep pace with.
There was a storm of a different kind that could play a factor: it snowed in Raleigh yesterday, closing down all of the schools in the area and making the roads a bit of a mess. So, it will be interesting to see if the Canes have their usually boisterous crowd at full capacity tonight.
The Opponent
Carolina enters tonight sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division, with a 17-9-2 record (36 points). Once again, they are a legitimate contender for a deep playoff run-and maybe a Stanley Cup.
As usual, they play that high octane system implemented by Rod Brind'Amour. They swarm pucks and like to control the game from the offensive zone.
This year, they have some added scoring power after signing Nik Ehlers in free agency over the summer. He took a little while to settle in, but has 19 points in his last 23 games.
The Canes are led in scoring by Sebastian Aho, with 26 points (9 goals) in 28 games. Seth Jarvis sits just 2 points behind (with 16 goals); while defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is seeing a renaissance in his career, currently third on the team with 21 points.
They lost their last game, 4-1 at home on Sunday to the San Jose Sharks. They did so without one of the game's most underrated defensemen: Jaccob Slavin. He's only gotten into 2 games this season.
Currently, they have him listed as day to day, and his status could make a huge difference for the Blue Jackets' chances tonight, one way or another. Update: sounds like he will not play.
In goal, they have been backstopped by committee. Frederik Andersen has started the most games (14), but Pyotr Kochetkov has far better numbers. We'll update this article once the starter is announced.
Update: Brandon Bussi likely gets the nod. He's 8-1-0 on the season with a .903% save percentage and 2.21 goals against average. This is the first start of his career against the Blue Jackets.
The Good Guys
Despite the loss in Washington on Sunday, I thought the Blue Jackets played one of their better games of the season. Especially considering the back-to-back, and the clown show in Florida on Saturday.
They needed to bear down and score a goal, but otherwise I thought it was as close to a full 60 minute effort as we have seen from this team all season.
If they can put forth that kind of effort again tonight, they will give themselves a chance to win in Raleigh. I wouldn't expect any lineup changes, but we will post everything here once it's updated.
Update: indeed, same lineup with Jet Greaves in goal.
Three Keys to Success
1. Weather the storm. When the Hurricanes get to buzzing around, their crowd can help them take over a game. The Jackets need to come into this one with a "bend, don't break" mindset. Just stick to the systems and don't let them take the game completely over on one shift.
2. Goaltending. I would assume Jet Greaves will get the nod tonight, with the day of rest between games and the way each goalie played over the weekend. The Jackets will need some saves at key moments, especially if that momentum takes a big swing.
3. Traffic. This Carolina team plays a stingy game. Scoring chances come at a premium, so when they happen, it's best to get traffic in front of their net to take advantage.
Tonight's game is an ESPN+/Hulu exclusive, so you can catch all of the action via those channels. Or, tune in to NHL Radio and give Bobby Mac a listen. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 7:30 Eastern.