The Columbus Blue Jackets look to stretch their season-best winning streak to six games when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in Newark, N.J.
The Jackets are 9-1-0 in the last 10 games and 8-1-0 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach. Since the change behind the bench, the Blue Jackets have trailed in only three of Bowness’ nine games.
While there’s still a lot of time before the March 6 trade deadline, the Jackets’ recent form has gotten general manager Don Waddell thinking about potential roster additions for this season and beyond.
“If we’re a buyer and I’m going to give up some assets, I’d like to get somebody who has some term left (on their contract),” Waddell told The Athletic.
Despite their stellar play, Columbus remains outside a playoff position in the crowded Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets’ 61 points put them three ahead of the Devils, who are 1-3-0 in their last four games.
It has been an inconsistent season for the Devils, but forward Connor Brown feels as long as his team isn’t allowing the opponent any “freebies,” New Jersey can play with anyone.
“You look at the lulls throughout our season, there’s a lot of games where we beat ourselves,” Brown said. “(We’re) just trying to make plays on a 3-on-3 or when we don’t have a numerical advantage. Those are the things you’ve got to recognize, and you can’t just give the other team chances.”
Both teams could be missing a star player on Tuesday, as Jack Hughes (lower-body injury) and Kirill Marchenko (illness) are both questionable.
Hughes’ injury kept him out of New Jersey’s last game, a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The forward didn’t train with the team on Monday, but he did skate on his own following the Devils’ practice session.
Though Marchenko’s status is unclear, Columbus should be getting some lineup reinforcements back. Dante Fabbro practiced Monday after missing six games due to a lacerated foot, and Sean Monahan practiced after an illness kept him out of the Jackets’ last game.
Marchenko and Zach Werenski share the Blue Jackets’ team lead with 19 goals, and Werenski leads the club in assists (41) and points (60).
Nico Hischier leads New Jersey in goals (18) and points (41), and Jesper Bratt has a team-leading 27 assists.
Killing penalties has been an issue for both teams, but the Blue Jackets and Devils each have been better recently against opposing power plays. Columbus is 19-for-21 on the penalty kill over its last seven games, while New Jersey is 18-for-20 over its last eight.
The away team won each of the previous three games between the Blue Jackets and Devils this season, with New Jersey holding a 2-1 edge. The Devils are 10-3-0 in their last 13 games with Columbus.
In three starts against the Jackets this season, Devils goalie Jake Allen posted a .905 save percentage and a 3.11 goals-against average. Allen and Jacob Markstrom have split starting duties over New Jersey’s last six games, and Markstrom would start Tuesday if the rotation holds.
Since the Jackets also play on Wednesday at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins will split the back-to-back starts in some order.
–Field Level Media
