This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
The Blue Jackets looked like they were getting back on track with a 4-2 lead going into the third period against the Rangers following a tough loss against the Capitals that snapped their 16-game winning streak, but their bubble was burst after Adam Clendening scored his first two goals of the season in the third period and Michael Grabner scored with 17 seconds game remaining to complete the comeback win.
After getting the puck into the Rangers zone, Seth Jones whiffed on a cross-ice pass at the blue line. and it couldn't have been stolen by a more dangerous open-ice player than the speedy Grabner, who beat Boone Jenner coming off the bench to beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a clean breakaway. Credit to Grabner, though, who went forehand then backhand shelf past a sprawling Curtis McElhinney, who had no chance on the highlight-reel move.
Exactly how good the Blue Jackets are is still to be determined, because even though they still sit atop the Metro Division, the Rangers, Penguins and Capitals aren't far behind, and they have far more winning experience. As the saying goes, you're never as good as you think during your highest highs, and you're never as bad as you think during your lowest lows. With a plus-46 goal differential and a talented roster the Blue Jackets are obviously quite good, but will they have to go through a few more peaks and valleys and playoff disappointments before they truly become a dominant team? It'll be interesting to see how well they fare in the second half of the season.
Featured Matchups
Lightning (PP: 2, PK: 24) at Penguins (PP: 5, PK: 22), 5:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Andrei Vasilevskiy (10-7-2, 2.75, .908), Marc-Andre Fleury (12-5-4, 3.12, .909)
Key Injuries:Brian Dumoulin (jaw), Matt Murray (lower body), Ben Bishop (lower body), Brian Boyle (lower body), J.T. Brown (face), Braydon Coburn (upper body), Brayden Point (upper body), Steven Stamkos (knee)
Who blinks first? The Lightning and Penguins both have vaunted power plays but weak penalty killing units, which means special teams could be the biggest game changer. The matchup would be far more appealing if Stamkos was in the lineup, because as it stands it's hard to see how Jon Cooper's squad will be able to keep Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in check. They're two of the best offensive players in the league right now and Victor Hedman can only do so much. Tampa enters the game on a three-game skid, but a win will vault them back into a playoff spot.
Predators (PP: 13, PK: 14) at Blackhawks (PP: 15, PK: 28), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Pekka Rinne (14-10-6, 2.45, .918), Corey Crawford (14-8-3, 2.34, .925)
Key Injuries:Marcus Kruger (upper body), Viktor Arvidsson (upper body), James Neal (upper body), Miikka Salomaki (lower body), P.K. Subban (upper body), Colin Wilson (undisclosed)
With the way Nashville is playing, they're in danger of missing the playoffs, and a loss to a division rival will distance themselves further and further from the race. The absence of Neal and Subban will be missed on the power play, although the Blackhawks penalty kill has fared much better of late. The key to beating Chicago is to exploit their lack of depth, but Wilson was hurt against Florida and Craig Smith has just seven goals in 38 games. Jonathan Toews should be able to make a big difference in the circle, and Roman Josi's play so far this season has shown no indication that he can keep Patrick Kane or Artemi Panarin in check.
Wild (PP: 14, PK: 5) at Ducks (PP: 4, PK: 17), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Devan Dubnyk (20-7-3, 1.83, .939), John Gibson (15-9-7, 2.48, .913)
Key Injuries:Simon Despres (head), Ryan Getzlaf (lower body), Nicolas Kerdiles (concussion), Clayton Stoner (abdomen), Nate Thompson (Achilles), Victor Bartley (triceps)
This is a potential conference final matchup in a pretty wide-open Western Conference. A win for Minnesota could put them in first place in the Central, and a win for Anaheim could put them first in the Pacific. Despite a pretty good record, Gibson will have to go save-for-save against Dubnyk for the Ducks to win. Both teams are quite evenly matched up, though the Ducks are a little more banged up with Getzlaf nursing an injury.
Other Matchups
Bruins (PP: 25, PK: 1) at Hurricanes (PP: 16, PK: 2), 5:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Tuukka Rask (19-9-3, 2.00, .926), Cam Ward (14-12-6, 2.27, .915)
Key Injuries:Matt Beleskey (knee), John-Michael Liles (concussion), Bryan Bickell (illness), Eddie Lack (concussion), Elias Lindholm (upper body)
The Bruins and Hurricanes are two teams in transition, so all eyes should be on the youngsters such as David Pastrnak and Teuvo Teravainen. Both teams match up quite well: Ward and Rask have both been playing well and feature a few speedy, game-breaking forwards, though the Bruins offense has the slight edge in goals for 102-100 and goal against 101-105.
Flyers (PP: 9, PK: 18) at Blue Jackets (PP: 1, PK: 15), 6:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Steve Mason (14-13-5, 2.82, .903), Sergei Bobrovsky (25-6-2, 2.03, .930)
Key Injuries:Mark Streit (shoulder)
After blowing a 4-2 loss against the Rangers on Saturday and losing their second straight game, the Blue Jackets are crashing down to Earth. They're a talented group with a very mobile defense and strong goaltending – and they should certainly be very proud of their 16-game winning streak – but their young stars still have yet to reach their potential and their lack of playoff appearances (and successes) still put them a tier below the likes of the Penguins. The feisty Flyers will be a good test because they don't go down without a fight, but should also give Columbus a chance to get back on track.
Oilers (PP: 10, PK: 19) at Senators (PP: 22, PK: 12), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Jonas Gustavsson (1-2-1, 2.90, .893), Mike Condon (8-5-3, 2.41, .916)
Key Injuries:Brandon Davidson (illness), Darnell Nurse (ankle), Iiro Pakarinen (leg), Tyler Pitlick (knee), Craig Anderson (personal), Andrew Hammond (ankle), Clarke MacArthur (concussion)
The Oilers and Senators were two Canadian teams most figured would not be part of the playoff picture, yet they both sit third in the division. Their footing is dicey, however, with the Flames and the Kings still capable of catching up in a hurry, while the Leafs are tied with the Sens and the Lightning sitting just two points behind. Gustavsson makes a rare start, and even though the Sens have scored just three goals in three games, has to be sharp because Erik Karlsson, Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman are all very capable scorers. The Oilers have not played many back-to-back games this season, but for a young squad they should feel a little less fatigued.
Recommended Pickup
Ondrej Palat, LW, TB – The 25-year-old former seventh-round pick garnered lots of attention for his playoff heroics and strong two-way play, but has lost value in fantasy during recent years due to his declining production. But since returning to the lineup, Palat has scored three goals and two assists in six games, and quickly becoming a popular name again. It's unlikely he scores 60 points this season, but 20 goals isn't out of the question. He's owned in just under half of ESPN leagues.
