PREVIEW: Blue Jackets take point streak into matchup with Florida

BLUE JACKETS (2-2-2) vs. PANTHERS (2-0-0)

It was a huge move, with the acquisition of Laine giving the Blue Jackets the high-level scoring winger they had been searching for, while Roslovic is the hometown kid, a Columbus product who has dreamed of playing for the local team his entire life.
But lost a smidge in the deal that shook the hockey world was the fact the Blue Jackets also played a heck of a game Saturday against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Columbus put together perhaps its best performance of the young season, downing Tampa Bay by a 5-2 score in Nationwide Arena to extend its point streak to four games (2-0-2).
So where were the biggest improvements for the Jackets compared to the first five helter-skelter games?
"Neutral zone," head coach John Tortorella said. "We didn't give up any odd-man rushes. We were much better away from the puck. We played in fives. We were in groups of five. We weren't spread out and allowing the opposition to have free ice. We just had a better concentration of playing away from the puck, and I think it generated more offense for us."
Perhaps the biggest benefit will be between the ears as well, at least in part because the uncertainty around the Dubois situation that has hung over the team is now in the past. For whatever reason, the Blue Jackets struggled to get much traction through the first five games even while grinding out a few results, but the uptick in play Saturday is encouraging.
"I think it's huge for everyone both as a team and individuals to get a win against the Stanley Cup champions and get three of four points," center Max Domi said. "That's what it's all about, right? When you're winning hockey games, everyone's confidence goes through the roof and you grow as a group, so it's tough not to take a step in the right direction with that weekend under our belts. We're looking forward to building on that, that's for sure."
As the Jackets get ready to face the Panthers in consecutive games, reinforcements are on the way. Center Mikko Koivu, signed this offseason after 15 years with Minnesota, is scheduled make his season debut Tuesday night after starting the season on the COVID-related absences list.
Roslovic practiced Monday but will continue to be held out as he works his way into game shape, while Laine continues to seek a work visa and will not be able to play until that is taken care of. Still, the Blue Jackets are starting to see a full roster coming together with some help on the horizon.
"We're starting to get a lot of these pieces coming in in the next week to 10 days," Seth Jones said. "We'll have our roster. We want to keep moving forward, want to progress to be a better team. The way you do that is gain chemistry on the ice and between lines. It's great that Mikko is back, and Jack and Patrik. It's going to be a very exciting time here, and I can't wait."
Know the Foe
To say much of this Florida team needs no introduction is a bit of an understatement.
The Panthers' roster includes six former Blue Jackets -- forwards Alexander Wennberg and Anthony Duclair; defensemen Kevin Connauton, Markus Nutivaara and Anton Stralman; and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky -- not to mention general manager Bill Zito, who left Columbus to take the job this summer.
He quickly took Wennberg and Nutivaara -- both of whom suited up for the CBJ last year -- with him, signing the former after he was bought out by Columbus and acquiring the latter in a trade. Zito also signed Duclair in free agency and recently inked Connauton to join the team's taxi squad.
So there will be plenty of familiar faces on the other side of the ice for this two-game set, and so far the former Jackets have helped the Panthers -- who have had series against Dallas and Carolina postponed because of the opponents' COVID issues -- to a 2-0 start with an early sweep of the Blackhawks.
Florida scored 10 goals -- three of the power-play variety -- in those two games, starting with a 5-2 win in the season opener before 5-4 overtime win last Tuesday in the team's last game. New acquisition Patric Hornqvist -- also a familiar face from his years with rival Pittsburgh - leads the way with three goals and an assist, while Carter Verhaeghe also has two goals after being brought in from Tampa Bay. Jonathan Huberdeau has a 1-3-4 line in the two games, while Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad, Eetu Luostarinen and Frank Vatrano also have scored.
Offense wasn't an issue a year ago for Florida as the Panthers notched 3.30 goals per game to place sixth in the NHL, but the team was a defensive mess, placing 28th in the NHL with 3.25 goals allowed per contest. The team did remake the blue line, bringing in such names as Nutivaara, Radko Gudas and Gustav Forsling to help provide more support for Bobrovsky, who had a 3.23 GAA and .900 save percentage last year.
Bobrovsky had a rough start numerically in his first contest, giving up four goals on 36 shots, while Chris Driedger started the opener and allowed two goals on 30 shots.
3 Keys to the Game
Stay dominant: Columbus has had its way against Florida of late, winning nine of the last 10 games overall. The gap is even wider in Nationwide Arena, as the Jackets are 13-0-1 at home vs. Florida since Nov. 21, 2007. It's time to keep the pressure on.
Neutral zone improvements: Tortorella mentioned it above, but it's important to keep playing smartly in the middle of the ice, especially against a team like Florida that can score in transition. Hopefully Columbus can build on Saturday's result.
Got the power: Columbus' power play has moved in fits and starts this year, but Florida perhaps offers a chance to show some improvement as the Panthers penalty kill has ceded three goals in five chances this year.
Of Note
Columbus will wear its third jersey for the first time this season. … Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand has a 2-3-5 line in the past four games. … CBJ goalie Joonas Korpisalo has a .935 save percentage so far this year. … Cam Atkinson is two goals from 200 in his CBJ and NHL careers. He would be the second Blue Jackets to reach the milestone after Rick Nash. … Jones has 196 points in his Blue Jackets career and also has 199 career assists in his time with Columbus and Nashville. … Nick Foligno is one goal from 200 in his NHL career (138 with Columbus, 61 with Ottawa). …. CBJ defenseman Zach Werenski had four goals in two games vs. Florida last year, including a hat trick in a New Year's Eve win. … Columbus won the last two games of the series a year ago, both in Nationwide Arena, while Florida won the first of the three contests in Sunrise. … Columbus is 14-2-0-1 all-time at home vs. Florida. … Dating back to last season, the Blue Jackets have picked up points in 16 straight games (10-0-6) against teams that typically reside in the Atlantic Division.
Projected Lineup
(Subject to change)
Nick Foligno - Max Domi - Cam Atkinson
Boone Jenner - Alexandre Texier - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Eric Robinson - Riley Nash - Liam Foudy
Mikhail Grigorenko - Mikko Koivu - Kevin Stenlund
Vladislav Gavrikov - Seth Jones
Zach Werenski - David Savard
Michael Del Zotto - Dean Kukan
Joonas Korpisalo (confirmed starter)
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratches: Jack Roslovic, Scott Harrington, Gabriel Carlsson
Injured reserve:Patrik Laine, Gus Nyquist, Brandon Dubinsky (LTIR)
Roster Report:Tortorella said Koivu will make his CBJ debut but Roslovic will not as he continues to get into game shape. Nathan Gerbe will be the odd man out of the lineup and was returned to the taxi squad with Koivu's return, while Stenlund shifts to wing.