Preview: Blue Jackets host Coyotes, looking for back-to-back sweep

GAME 30: COYOTES (7-19-5) AT BLUE JACKETS (18-10-1)
NATIONWIDE ARENA, 7 P.M., SATURDAY
TV: FOX SPORTS OHIO/FOX SPORTS GO
RADIO: 97.1 FM & BLUEJACKETS.COM
It took them 20 minutes to snap to life, but the Blue Jackets eventually got back to playing their brand of hockey in a 5-3 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Friday at Prudential Center.
They also got five primary assists from Artemi Panarin, who tied the franchise record for assists in one game. Panarin's big night matched Espen Knutsen, who had five assists Mar. 24, 2001 in a 6-4 victory against the Calgary Flames - in the Blue Jackets' inaugural season.
Panarin leads Columbus with 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists). He's on pace for 19 goals, 50 assists and 69 points

Now comes the hard part. The Blue Jackets will play again 24 hours later, hosting the Arizona Coyotes to conclude their eighth of 17 back-to-back sets this season. They've swept one of the first seven.
"After the first game against New Jersey [on Tuesday], we had a bit of a bitter taste in our mouth for a couple days," said Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Harrington, who scored a goal against the Devils on Friday. "It's nice now, we get right back at it [Saturday], and we left off on a good note today. We should be feeling pretty good going into [that game]."
Columbus is first in the Metropolitan Division with 37 points, but the standings are tightly packed. The Jackets are tied in points with the second-place Washington Capitals, one point ahead of the third-place Devils and two points up on the New York Islanders (fourth) and Pittsburgh Penguins (fifth) - who are each on the upcoming schedule.
SERIES RECORD
2017-18 Season: (0-0-0). This is the first of two games. The Blue Jackets will face the Coyotes once more, playing at Gila River Arena on Jan. 25.
All-time: 23-26-6 overall; 14-11-2 at Nationwide Arena
SERIES SNAPSHOT
The Blue Jackets have swept the past two season series against the Coyotes (4-0-0), and are 6-2-0 against Arizona since Columbus moved into the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in 2013-14. The Jackets have won six of the past seven games against the Coyotes played at Nationwide Arena (6-1-0).
Last season (2-0-0): The Jackets swept both games, winning 3-2 in a shootout Dec. 3 at Gila River Arena, and then prevailing two days later, 4-1, on Dec. 5 in Columbus.
Sergei Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney split the starts in net, with both playing well to earn victories. McElhinney made 34 saves and came out the winner in a shootout to win the first game, and Bobrovsky made 18 saves on 19 shots to backstop the second win.
Alex Wennberg (goal, assist), Nick Foligno (goal, assist) and Cam Atkinson (two assists) each had two points for the Blue Jackets. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had two assists to lead the Coyotes in scoring.
WHO'S HOT
Coyotes:Derek Stepan has three points (two goals, one assist) in the past three games. Christian Dvorak scored the lone goal for Arizona in a 6-1 loss Thursday to the Boston Bruins.
Blue Jackets: Panarin has nine points in the past four games (two goals, seven assists), rookie center Pierre-Luc Dubois has seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past five games and defenseman Zach Werenski has four points (three goals, one assist) in the past five games.
EYES ON: THE COYOTES
EYES ON: THE BLUE JACKETS
QUOTABLES
Coyotes
"I think they just capitalized on their chances. They're a good team, and they play fast. We're looking forward to the next game in Columbus, and showing a different team." - Coyotes rookie defenseman Kyle Copobianco, following Arizona's 6-1 loss Thursday to the Boston Bruins.
Blue Jackets
"He's so good, and sees the ice in ways most guys don't. The plays he makes, if you're open he'll find you, and that's the best part about it." - Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, on left wing Artemi Panarin's playmaking ability.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
COYOTES
Forwards
Tobias Rieder - Derek Stepan - Clayton Keller
Max Domi - Christian Dvorak - Christian Fischer
Brendan Perlini - Dylan Strome - Anthony Duclair
Jordan Martinook - Brad Richardson - Zac Rinaldo
Defensemen
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Jason Demers
Jakob Chychrun - Alex Goligoski
Kyle Capobianco - Luke Schenn
Goaltenders
Antti Raanta
Scott Wedgewood
Others:Kevin Connauton, Nick Cousins
Injured reserve: Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body)
Long-term injured reserve:Dave Bolland (Upper body)
BLUE JACKETS
Forwards
Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Josh Anderson
Nick Foligno - Alexander Wennberg - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Sonny Milano - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson
Boone Jenner - Lukas Sedlak - Matt Calvert
Defensemen
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Jack Johnson - David Savard
Scott Harrington - Markus Nutivaara
Goaltenders
Joonas Korpisalo
or
Sergei Bobrovsky
Others:Tyler Motte, Gabriel Carlsson, Markus Hannikainen
Injured reserve:Ryan Murray (upper body)