Deadspin | Jackets, up against Predators, glad to turn page on March

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ quest to finish their four-season playoff drought continues Tuesday once they host the slumping Nashville Predators.

The Blue Jackets (33-30-9, 75 factors) sit two factors behind the Montreal Canadiens for the ultimate Jap Convention wild-card spot. Columbus has yet one more sport to play than Montreal. The New York Rangers are also two factors in entrance of Columbus, however they’ve two fewer video games to play than the Blue Jackets.

Columbus stays on the cusp of a playoff berth regardless of a largely forgettable March during which the staff went 4-8-1. The month included six consecutive losses (0-5-1) and a stretch during which the Blue Jackets scored only one purpose complete throughout 4 video games.

Coach Dean Evason’s staff is coming off a loss 3-2 loss on Sunday in Ottawa, a outcome that ended Columbus’ two-game successful streak. Captain Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko scored for the Blue Jackets, who fell to a Senators staff that holds the convention’s high wild-card spot.

“I would really like to have again some minutes within the second (interval) there,” mentioned defenseman Zach Werenski, who assisted on each of Columbus’ targets. “I really feel like we did not get to our sport, however yeah, (Ottawa’s) a superb staff. They’re preventing for the playoffs as properly, they usually did not give us a lot tonight.”

Werenski leads the staff with 52 assists and 72 factors. He has three assists in his previous two video games after being held with out a level in six straight contests. Marchenko has scored a purpose in every of his previous three video games after netting only one in his earlier 10 contests.

The Predators (27-39-8, 62 factors) even have struggled of late, shedding three straight and eight of the previous 10 (2-7-1).

Nashville misplaced in Philadelphia 2-1 on Monday evening. Rookie Zachary L’Heureux scored, however a possible game-tying Steven Stamkos purpose within the third interval was waved off due to interference, a name the Predators disputed.

The Predators have simply 4 targets of their previous three video games, however it has not been due to an absence of effort. On Monday, they put 29 photographs on internet.

“That is been the story of the 12 months, will not be having the ability to capitalize (on) the probabilities, and that is when it will get irritating,” Stamkos mentioned after the loss to the Flyers.

Stamkos is second on the staff with 23 targets, however he has only one in his previous 10 video games after scoring 5 in a four-game span.

Accidents are additionally a problem for the Predators. The staff misplaced heart Colton Sissons to a left leg ailment throughout a Saturday loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and introduced he could be out for weeks. In the identical assertion, Nashville famous heart Jonathan Marchessault, who’s second on the staff with 30 assists and 49 factors, was day-to-day with a lower-body damage.

With Marchessault unavailable on Monday, coach Andrew Brunette used a lineup with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen on Monday, and he might make use of that tactic once more in Columbus.

One shiny spot for the Predators, although, has been their power-play unit. Nashville had scored with the person benefit in six straight video games earlier than going 0-for-1 at Philadelphia.

Not like the Predators, Columbus’ energy play endured a woeful March, changing simply two of its 28 alternatives (7.1 p.c).

–Subject Degree Media