Canucks Game Night: Playmaking Voracek is a huge plus for Blue Jackets

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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

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11-14-1, 5th in Metropolitan Division

at VANCOUVER CANUCKS

12-15-2, 7th in Pacific Division

7:00 p.m. M., Rogers Arena

TV: Sportsnet, Radio: Sportsnet 650

WHY SEE

The canucks are scratching, the jackets are wobbling

The Canucks have not had five straight wins since their 2020 Edmonton bubble postseason run with three wins over Minnesota in the qualifying round and two over St. Louis to start the first round. … Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson not only scored in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Carolina, their instinctive quick-release shots to the wrist to pick the short side bodes well for becoming a more offensive force. Give credit to new trainer Bruce Boudreau, whose infectious personality and pushing the right competitive buttons has come up with the impressive pair of snipers. … The Blue Jackets, who are the youngest team in the league, have an inability to get out of the defensive zone when under pressure.

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POINT LEADERS

BLUE JACKETS

1. Oliver Bjorkstrand GP 26 G 9 A 14 PTS 23 (-10)

2. Jakub Voracek GP 26 G 1 A 21 PTS 22 (-1)

3. Boone Jenner GP 26 G11 A 7 PTS 18 (-5)

CANUCKS

1. JT Miller GP 29 G 9 A 19 PTS 28 (E)

2. Quinn Hughes GP 28 G 2 A 20 PTS 22 (+6)

3. Conor Garland GP 29 G 9 A 12 PTS 21 (+6)

SPECIAL TEAMS

BLUE JACKETS : PP 19.7% (13th) PK 80.9 (17th)

CANUCKS: PP 18.6% (18th) PK 66.3% (32nd)

THREE THINGS ABOUT BLUE JACKETS

• Voracek can really help. Jakub Voracek, acquired in the Cam Atkinson trade with Philadelphia, is making an impact on his second road trip with the Blue Jackets. It is a primetime playmaker to prepare a variety of shooters. His 21 assists rank 11th overall and only Conor McDavid has more primary assists in the power play (nine) than the Blue Jackets’ big winger (seven).

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• Youthful growing pains. The Blue Jackets were 12-6-0 after a 4-2 win over the Canucks on November 26. They are on a 2-5-1 streak and have allowed 32 goals on the relegation because a young roster has often fallen apart when pressed on the forecheck and flipping the pucks.

• They worry about the roads. The Blue Jackets had lost five in a row on the road before the big breakout in Seattle on Saturday, in which they rallied for a 5-4 victory in overtime. They blew a 4-1 lead in the third period before Jake Bean scored his second overtime winner of the season.

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