Get an inside look on the competition ahead of tonight’s game as the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Columbus Blue Jackets!
The Philadelphia Flyers head to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in what should be a very entertaining game to watch.
Columbus enters the game with a 3-2-0 record, coming off an 8-2 thumping at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in their last contest. Expect them to be highly-motivated and ready to go for this game. This will be the Flyers first game against a Metropolitan team this season. It will be important to get the first victory over a division foe.
We had the honor of sitting down with Lansing Murphy, the Site Expert over at Union and Blue, ahead of tonight’s game. He gave great insight about the matchup and an inside perspective on this year’s Blue Jackets team.
Be sure to head on over to UnionandBlue.com for some great content and analysis on the Columbus Blue Jackets!
Broad Street Buzz (BSB): How has Columbus looked as a team to start the season?
Lansing Murphy (LM): Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I think they have been just fine and considering they are missing one of the top five best defenseman in the world in Seth Jones, the Jackets should be happy with a 3-2-0 start. Sure they were run out of the building by Tampa Bay but the Lightning are going to do that to plenty of teams this year.
The Ryan Murray–Markus Nutivaara pairing is looking great. Artemi Panarin is doing typical Panarin things. Nick Foligno has looked sharp and before his injury, Brandon Dubinsky was a pleasant surprise. Overall, this team is looking like a contender to win the Metro this year.
BSB: Who is a key player to watch for Columbus in this game?
LM: If Alexander Wennberg has a good game, the Jackets are likely going to win. The second line center has been hot and cold through five games this season but when he is hot, the Jackets win. The top line is going to be fine every night with the rare exception which is surprising considering a 20-year-old centers the line. But if the Jackets are going to do some damage this year, Wennberg needs to make sure the second line is driving play as well. Keep an eye on #10 tonight if you want to know whether or not the Jackets will win.
BSB: How worried are you about possibly losing Panarin to trade or departing in the offseason?
LM: It’s tough to get to worked up about it since it’s fairly likely he will leave. At this point, most Jackets fans have come to peace with the fact that he is gone at the end of the year or will be traded.
The Jackets acquired Panarin for essentially Brandon Saad which is looking like one of the best trades of the last five years. If the Jackets just get two years out of Panarin, it was worth it. If they trade him and get some assets, than it was fun having Panarin and life goes one. People forget that the Jackets racked up 108 points in 16-17 without Panarin and are still going to be a good team without him.
BSB: Which Flyers player worries you the most coming into the game?
LM: Radko Gudas for the simple fact that he can and probably will throw some dirty hits tonight and the Jackets can’t afford any more injuries. With Jones out for at least another week and Dubinsky out for another month, the CBJ need to stay healthy.
BSB: What is your prediction for this game?
LM: The Jackets are going to be pissed off and have a bad taste in their mouths for four full days after the beating they took from the Lightning. Sergei Bobvrovsky is going to be a brick wall and have his first shutout of the season propelling the Jackets to a 3-0 victory.
Thanks again to Lansing and the great people over at Union and Blue! Puck-drop is set for 7pm EST.