Blue Jackets @ Hurricanes 5/1 Final Game

[Harbingers]

"With six games left to play in the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes aim to move closer to locking up the first seed in the Central Division and possibly even the league when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Match-Up

Columbus Blue Jackets (16-25-10, 42 points) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (33-10-7, 73 points)

Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m.

Watch: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports app

Listen: 99.9 FM The Fan, Hurricanes.com/Listen, Hurricanes app

Numbers to Know

6: Sebastian Aho recorded two assists on Thursday against Detroit and now has points in six straight games (3g, 8a).

4: In addition to his six-game point streak, Aho also owns a four-game assist streak (7a).

10-2-4: The Canes earned points in 14 of their 16 games in April to finish the month with a 10-2-4 record and 24 points.

The Opposition

Last five games: 1-3-1, 3 points
On the road: 7-17-3, 17 points
CAR vs. CBJ: 4-1-2
Leading scorer: Oliver Bjorkstrand, 38 points (15g, 23a) in 51 games

The Blue Jackets have been idle since Tuesday, when they snapped a nine-game winless skid with a 1-0 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Elvis Merzlikins posted a 41-save shutout, while Patrik Laine and Oliver Bjorkstrand netted goals in the shootout. The Blue Jackets, who sank to the bottom of the Central Division standings with a 1-7-2 record in their last 10 games, have five games remaining in the regular season, and tonight's game in Raleigh marks their road finale."

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/gameday-preview-columbus-blue-jackets-carolina-hurricanes/c-324199762

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/projected-lineup-columbus-blue-jackets-carolina-hurricanes/c-324220046

"Here is the projected lineup for the Hurricanes.

Forwards

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen
Lorentz-Trocheck-Necas
Niederreiter-Staal-Foegele
McCormick-Shore-Geekie

Defensemen

Slavin-Hamilton
Bean-Pesce
Skjei-Hakanpaa

Goalies

Nedeljkovic
Reimer

Injuries: Fast (lower body), Martinook (lower body), McGinn (upper body), Mrazek (lower body)

Taxi squad: Gardiner, Ryan"

Paquette on rest rotation it looks like. Ned gets the start.

[Harbingers]

 

[Anybodyhome]

How did CBJ sink to the bottom so fast since the trade deadline? 

Can't wait to see how the 4th line performs tonite.

Edited May 1, 2021 by Anybodyhome

[Harbingers]

14 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

How did CBJ sink to the bottom so fast since the trade deadline? 

Can't wait to see how the 4th line performs tonite.

Besides the major selloff including their captain...

https://www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-miss-playoffs/c-323946958

"What went wrong

Center trouble: Pierre-Luc Dubois' trade to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 23 left the Blue Jackets without a true first-line center. They acquired forwards Patrik Laine (10 goals, eight assists in 39 games since trade) and Jack Roslovic (10 goals, 20 assists in 41 games) in the deal, but each has had ups and downs. In addition, acquiring forward Max Domi (seven goals, 12 assists in 47 games) in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for forward Josh Anderson on Oct. 6 and the signing of forward Mikko Koivu on Oct. 10 (retired Feb. 9) didn't pan out as hoped.

Defensive drop-off: Columbus went from allowing 2.61 goals per game last season (tied for third fewest in NHL) to 3.33 goals per game this season (26th). The Blue Jackets also dropped to 28th in the NHL scoring 2.37 goals per game after they tied for 27th last season with 2.57 per game.

Late-season letdown: Since climbing into a tie with the Chicago Blackhawks for fourth in the division with a 3-2 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 20, Columbus is 2-13-2. Season-ending injuries to defenseman Zach Werenski (sports hernia) and forward Boone Jenner (fractured finger), followed by the trades of defenseman David Savard (Tampa Bay Lightning) and forward Nick Foligno (Toronto Maple Leafs), accelerated the decline."

[Anybodyhome]

1 hour ago, Harbingers said:

Besides the major selloff including their captain...

https://www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-miss-playoffs/c-323946958

"What went wrong

Center trouble: Pierre-Luc Dubois' trade to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 23 left the Blue Jackets without a true first-line center. They acquired forwards Patrik Laine (10 goals, eight assists in 39 games since trade) and Jack Roslovic (10 goals, 20 assists in 41 games) in the deal, but each has had ups and downs. In addition, acquiring forward Max Domi (seven goals, 12 assists in 47 games) in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for forward Josh Anderson on Oct. 6 and the signing of forward Mikko Koivu on Oct. 10 (retired Feb. 9) didn't pan out as hoped.

Defensive drop-off: Columbus went from allowing 2.61 goals per game last season (tied for third fewest in NHL) to 3.33 goals per game this season (26th). The Blue Jackets also dropped to 28th in the NHL scoring 2.37 goals per game after they tied for 27th last season with 2.57 per game.

Late-season letdown: Since climbing into a tie with the Chicago Blackhawks for fourth in the division with a 3-2 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 20, Columbus is 2-13-2. Season-ending injuries to defenseman Zach Werenski (sports hernia) and forward Boone Jenner (fractured finger), followed by the trades of defenseman David Savard (Tampa Bay Lightning) and forward Nick Foligno (Toronto Maple Leafs), accelerated the decline."

That about covers it.

[Anybodyhome]

And Detroit beats TB 1-0 in a shootout.

[Harbingers]

Just now, Anybodyhome said:

And Detroit beats TB 1-0 in a shootout.

Nice. forgot they were an early game.

[Harbingers]

30 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

And Detroit beats TB 1-0 in a shootout.

That’s another point bonus for us. We can achieve a maximum of 85 right now I believe. TB can only reach 81 and Florida 79. 
 

With Tampa and Florida going head to head for their final two. 

Edited May 1, 2021 by Harbingers

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

34 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

And Detroit beats TB 1-0 in a shootout.

Thats great actually, as long as we win tonight puts us 4 points up.

[Anybodyhome]

Are you kidding me?

[Harbingers]

Come on Ned. Seal that short side. 

[Anybodyhome]

Canes can't cross the blue line.

[Anybodyhome]

That goal was even weaker on the replay. Charity goal.

 

[Harbingers]

11 minutes ago, Anybodyhome said:

Canes can't cross the blue line.

Nice pair of shifts by the first line but none of the other three have a forecheck at all.