Game #64 preview, the Blue Jackets need a spark against the Lightning

The Blue Jackets are on the road tonight, taking on the Lightning in Tampa Bay. With two losses in a row and a quick turn-around against an elite opponent, everything is lining up for disappointment. This team needs a spark.

Yesterday's game was quite a letdown for the 14,000 or so in attendance at Nationwide Arena. I know it was for yours truly, watching from my living room. The Jackets were sloppy at best, and never really deserved to win that game.

Tonight, they take on a team that has been struggling. The Lightning have just one win in their last six games. Still, they remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, and like the Blue Jackets, they have a lot on the line tonight.

The Opponent

For more than a decade, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the NHL's most elite teams. They continue to be, currently sitting 6th in the NHL with 82 points (39-19-4). That has them second in the Atlantic Division, though they have a higher points percentage than the first place Buffalo Sabres.

It seems like the personnel is irrelevant. No matter who comes in or out of their lineup, the Bolts just keep finding ways to sustain success. They sit sixth in the NHL in goals scored (219), and third in goals allowed (170).

Up front, they boast the league's third leading scorer. Nikita Kucherov has 34 goals and 103 points in just 58 games this season, and like always, he has a terrific supporting cast. Blue Jackets killer Jake Guentzel is second in scoring, with 27 goals and 67 points.

Then, it's a short drop-off to Brandon Hagel (59) and Darren Raddysh (58). None of this includes Brayden Point, who has only played in 44 games. In short, these guys have plenty of weapons that can find them a goal seemingly whenever they need it.

As their record indicates, this team is very stingy defensively. And, when they do spring a leak, one of the best goaltenders in the world is there to bail them out. Andrei Vasilevskiy is having a bit of a Renaissance in his career, with 29 wins in his 42 starts.

He boasts a .914% save percentage, 2.28 goals against average, and 2 shutouts. With the Lightning having yesterday off, expect him in their crease tonight as they look to bounce back from a wild 8-7 loss on Sunday.

The Good Guys

The Blue Jackets are losing games because they have forgotten how to defend. They are back to playing too passively in their own end, allowing too much time and space for the opposition. Couple that with shoddy goaltending, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Yesterday, they gave up 5 goals to one of the least productive teams in the NHL. If they play that way tonight, they will be lucky to keep the Lightning to fewer than 10 goals. I'm not being dramatic here. They have to play a heck of a lot better without the puck.

We know there will be at least one lineup change tonight. Erik Gudbranson did not travel with the team after suffering an undisclosed upper-body injury yesterday. Expect Egor Zamula to go back into the lineup in his place.

Any other lineup changes will probably not be announced until Rick Bowness meets with the media later this afternoon. I would expect to see Elvis Merzlikins in goal, on the second half of a back-to-back.

Three Keys to Success

1. Play harder. I don't mean this in the sense of "they didn't play hard yesterday". I mean, be harder on the puck. Throw your weight around, take away time and space defensively. No more free lanes to the net for the opponent, whether they have the puck or not.

2. Greasy goals. It feels weird to say this, but I thought the shots the Blue Jackets took yesterday were too good. Too free and clear. Anton Forsberg made the saves when he could see them. But, when the Jackets started finding deflections and getting traffic to the net, they had more success.

3. Just win. Two in a row is more than enough when you're fighting for a playoff spot. Whatever it takes to turn the momentum tonight, find a way to get it done.

This is the third and final matchup between these two teams this season. The Blue Jackets won the first two, but both were with Jonas Johansson in goal for the Lightning. They won't have it quite so easy tonight, with Vasilevskiy in goal.

Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 Eastern. Let's go Jackets.