PREVIEW: Blue Jackets open four-game homestand against Florida

BLUE JACKETS (10-11-5) vs. PANTHERS (15-5-4)

"I've actually liked where we're starting to get to," Foligno said Monday. "Obviously the 5-0 loss was a stinger just in our start, but there were some good minutes in that as well."
So what does Foligno see when he talks of those good minutes?
"I do think we're playing faster out of our end and arriving better in fives," he said. "The one thing I'd say I notice more is we're sustaining a forecheck. We're sustaining offensive zone time, whereas five games ago, that was nonexistent. So that's encouraging to me.
"I know we didn't score last game, but even the game before that, there was a lot of good cycles, a lot of good plays, keeping pucks in, keeping pucks alive. I'm encouraged by that."
The word forecheck might be a key to what the Blue Jackets are trying to do. It's not quite the same team as it's been in recent years, where heavy players like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Josh Anderson wreaked havoc in the offensive zone against defenders going back on pucks, and head coach John Tortorella admits that.
But you also don't have to be a big body to pressure defenders, create turnovers and possess the puck in the offensive zone. Such offensive players as Artemi Panarin and now Oliver Bjorkstrand have proved that in recent seasons, and while this CBJ team might not be as physically imposing as in recent years, it can still go back to that playbook of "going north" to create the scoring that has been hit or miss in recent games.
"Quite honestly, it's changed a bit within our lineup," Tortorella said. "It's hard to get to that as often as we'd like, but it certainly shouldn't hinder us from playing north. We're trying to play as fast as possible, and we allow the players to make the decision. If they feel they can make a play, make a play, and if not we have to put it behind their D and do some forechecking.
"The forechecking part of our game has shown up more and more the last two or three games, which is a good sign."
Know the Foe
Former Blue Jackets associate general manager Bill Zito has orchestrated perhaps the top turnaround in the league in his first season running the show in Florida, with a bevy of offseason acquisitions and the emergence of goalie Chris Driedger helping the Panthers to a .708 points percentage, fifth best in the NHL.
Offense leads the way, as it has in recent years with the Panthers, as Florida sits tied for sixth in the league with 3.29 goals per game and a power play clicking at 24.7 percent (10th in the league). But the team has also made a substantial defensive improvement, slotting 13th in the league with 2.83 goals allowed per contest.
Up front, it's a pair of Florida mainstays leading the way as Jonathan Huberdeau is seventh in the league with 29 points on a team-best 10 goals and 19 assists, while Aleksander Barkov is tied for 11th with an 8-19-27 line. Those 19 assists each have are tied for ninth in the NHL.
Offseason trade acquisition Patric Hornqvist has found the sun to be fun, as the former Penguin has a 9-11-20 line boosted by five power-play goals. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad has also scored five times on the man advantage as part of his 9-8-17 line, while Carter Verhaeghe has proved to be a sound pickup from Tampa Bay with eight goals and eight assists. Veteran blueliner Keith Yandle, who has now played in 1,000 NHL games, adds 3-13-16.
In net, Driedger has split the 24 starts evenly with Sergei Bobrovsky, with the former having a huge year with a 7-3-2 record, 2.40 GAA and .920 save percentage. Bobrovsky has been the recipient of some excellent offensive support, going 8-2-2 with a 3.02 GAA and .900 save percentage.
There are a bevy of former CBJ players on the roster, but forward Anthony Duclair (2-8-10 in 19 games) and defensemen Markus Nutivaara (0-3-3 in seven games) and Anton Stralman (2-6-8 in 22 games) have been banged up and all were out in Sunday's game at Carolina. Alexander Wennberg has five goals and five assists in 24 games, while Kevin Connauton has an assist in five games.
3 Keys to the Game
Defensive structure: It's been a constant theme all year for the Jackets, but it will be key against a Florida team that can fill the net if you break down in the defensive zone. Will the recent improvements there hold up?
No rest for the weary: This will be Florida's fourth game in six days in a third different city. A quick start could be crucial for the Jackets against what could be a tired foe.
Zone time into chances: The Blue Jackets have liked their forechecking game in recent contests, but they were unable to turn zone time into goals Saturday. There are good signs in there, but the puck has to go in the net.
Of Note
Cam Atkinson has a 9-6-15 line in the last 15 contests. His four shorthanded goals lead the NHL this season. … His 10 goals and 19 points also lead the Jackets … Jack Roslovic is expected to play in his 200th career NHL game. … Max Domi's streak of 293 consecutive games played is the seventh-longest active streak in the league; Yandle's 890 straight games leads the NHL. … Boone Jenner has a 5-4-9 line in the last 12 games. ... Seth Jones is tied for sixth among NHL blueliners in assists and tied for 10th in points since Feb. 1 with 1-11-12 in 16 games. … Joonas Korpisalo, who has started the last seven games in net for the Blue Jackets, has posted a 2.25 GAA and .917 save percentage in his past six games since Feb. 25. … Columbus has outscored teams 26-16 in first period. The Jackets are just 8-6-4 when taking a 1-0 lead but 4-1-1 when making that 1-0 lead a 2-0 advantage. … The teams played a pair of games that went to shootouts Jan. 26 and 28 in Nationwide Arena, with Florida winning the first and Columbus the second. … The Blue Jackets are 14-0-2 in the last 16 games in Columbus vs. Florida. … The Blue Jackets have won seven consecutive games in Nationwide Arena in the month of March dating back to 2019.
Projected Lineup
(Subject to change)
Oliver Bjokstrand - Jack Roslovic - Patrik Laine
Nick Foligno - Boone Jenner - Cam Atkinson
Eric Robinson - Alexandre Texier - Kevin Stenlund
Max Domi - Riley Nash - Emil Bemstrom
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Gabriel Carlsson - David Savard
Vladislav Gavrikov - Michael Del Zotto
Joonas Korpisalo(confirmed starter)
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratches:Mikhail Grigorenko, Scott Harrington, Dean Kukan
Taxi squad:Zac Dalpe, Ryan MacInnis, Stefan Matteau, Cam Johnson
Injured reserve:Gus Nyquist (shoulder, out 5-6 months as of November), Brandon Dubinsky (wrist, LTIR)
Roster report:Based on Monday's practice, it appears the Jackets will use the same skaters but try some new forward lines, while Merzlikins will be active after being elevated from injured reserve Monday. Korpisalo will make his eighth straight start.