Blue Jackets Keys to a Win in New Jersey
The Blue Jackets head to the Prudential Center in Newark for the last time this season.
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The Blue Jackets are set to face off against their division rival New Jersey Devils for the third time this season. The Blue Jackets are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and look to bounce back following the holiday break. The Devils on the other hand are coming off of a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to that win though, they had lost three games in a row. The season series is currently tied at one win a piece, as the Blue Jackets won the opening match-up in New Jersey while the Devils won earlier this month at Nationwide Arena.
Keys to Success
Pressure the Goaltender
The Devils’ greatest weakness so far this season has been their goaltending. Statistically Akira Schmid has outplayed Vitek Vanecek, however, the Devils tend to get the win more often when Vanecek is between the pipes. Their numbers show that if you put enough shots on goal, they’re going to crack. Both are below a .900 save percentage, so putting three or four goals on the board is certainly doable. The Devils are also suffering from a weakened defensive core as Dougie Hamilton is out with a torn pectoral muscle. With the offensive firepower that the Blue Jackets have, there’s no reason for them to not find the back of the net.
Stand Up for Your Goalie
The Blue Jackets had an embarrassing moment in their last game against the Washington Capitals, it’s gotten plenty of circulation and Pascal Vincent’s post-game availability didn’t do much to help. Elvis Merzlikins felt that he was put in danger by Tom Wilson, who certainly has a history of questionable plays, and since nobody did anything about it, he had to handle it himself. Doing so did end up costing the Blue Jackets the game, but a goaltender should always be protected by his teammates before it even reaches that point.
Lineups
New Jersey Lines From Previous Game
Toffoli-Hughes-Bratt
Palat-Hischier-Lazar
Meier- McLeod-Mercer
Holtz-Haula-Bastian
Siegenthaler-Nemec
Hughes-Marino
Smith- Bahl
Vanecek
Schmid
Columbus Lines From Previous Game
Gaudreau-Fantilli-Danforth
Chinakhov-Voronkov-Marchenko
Johnson-Sillinger-Bemstrom
Gaunce-Kuraly-Texier
Werenski-Gudbranson
Provorov-Severson
Peeke-Jiricek
Merzlikins
Martin
Game Notes:
Following a health scare in the Blue Jackets’ last game against Toronto, Sean Kuraly is likely to be out of the lineup.
Damon Severson had been injured during both prior meetings between these teams, he’ll be returning to New Jersey for the first time as a Blue Jacket.