Game Preview #79: Blue Jackets take on Oilers in a Sunday morning matchup

Sunday, April 24, 2022 – 1:00 pm ET
National Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Television: Bally Ohio Sports; Station: 97.1 FM
Opponent Blog: Copper and Blue

Edmonton Oilers (46-26-6, 98 points, 2nd Pacific, 5th West)
in
Columbus Blue Jackets (35-36-7, 77 points, 6 Metro, 10 East)

Today’s game marks the last opponent of the season in the Western Conference, and it’s unbelievable. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are in town for a Sunday afternoon game against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Oilers are pretty much locked in their playoff position and don’t have much to play for outside of chasing individual trophies. For that reason, it will be interesting to see if the Blue Jackets can upset Edmonton in what could well be a disappointing game for the playoff-bound Oil.

This is the penultimate home game of the year and the last weekend game of the season, so expect a packed house this afternoon to cheer on the Jackets before they hit the links this offseason. The Oilers have won the previous five matchups against the Jackets by a combined score of 21-5. I will be very impressed if they can get a win tomorrow with such a small team.

player to watch

Kent Johnson

I know he’s recently been picked by others as the player to watch, but really, how much more is there to see in these latest games? Johnson now has points in his last two games, assisting on a pair of goals, including the only RBI against Ottawa on Friday night. KJ is still looking for his first goal, and would like to see him take more shots at the net considering he only has two shots at the net in his first five games. Johnson hit a post in the last game with a wicked backhand, so the first goal couldn’t be closer. These games are such important lessons, even if he’s not producing, and they’ll send him into the summer with a completely different mindset than he would have if he didn’t have any pro games after his college season.

It’s going to be great, and it’s already working.

jackets notes

The Blue Jackets are limping toward the finish line…literally. They have played their last few games without their best offensive and defensive player and have performed admirably, but ultimately failed to secure any wins. The Jackets will try to avoid a five-game losing streak this afternoon, but it won’t be easy against a team with two of the best players in the world and no stars of their own. That’s right, both Zach Werenski and Patrik Laine have already been ruled out of today’s game.

Sadly, any win from here on out will be a surprise as they play the Penguins next and then wrap up the season with a home-and-home game against the defending champions, the tampa bay lightning.

However, I have still been able to enjoy watching these games. Partly because I like to see young people learning the ropes and dreaming of their future success, but mostly because I know how much I’m going to miss hockey as we get closer to the offseason.

the other bank

The Oilers come to the Nationwide having clinched a playoff spot for the third straight season. They did so impressively, defeating the colorado avalanche 6-3, thanks to a hat-trick by Evander Kane. His controversial trade deadline Kane has fired up the Oilers in the second half of the season and the team heads into the playoffs with some confidence. Superstar Connor McDavid has some competition in the race for the Art Ross Trophy this year, so he wouldn’t necessarily expect a disappointment from Edmonton after his big win on Friday. His fellow megastar, Leon Draisaitl, is also trying to find his own prize. He currently ranks second in Rocket Richard’s career with 54 goals on the season, more than double Blue Jacket’s highest goal total. He is second only to Auston Matthews, who is trying to become the first 60-goal scorer in the last ten years.

Will this be the year Oil finally makes some noise in the playoffs?

season series

12/16/21 CBJ 2 @ EDM 5
04/24/22 EDM @ CBJ

Statistics

Projected Lines

Come on Jackets!