Columbus Blue Jackets host Florida Panthers – NHL Preview
As the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs come closer, Florida Panthers have started regressing slightly and that is not a good omen for them.
A game against the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets might just be what Panthers need to get back to winning ways.
The Blue Jackets are already out of the playoff contention, but they are hoping to end the season on a winning note.
Panthers and Blue Jackets will face each other on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio.
Let’s take a look at both teams.
Panthers
Panthers are leading the Southeast Division and after playing 77 games, they are ranked at third spot in the Eastern Conference with 90 points.
Despite the good record, Panthers’ current form is not up to the mark. They have lost four of their last five games with the recent defeat coming against Minnesota Wild.
Panthers were leading, 1-0, after the end of the second period, but Wild scored twice in the final period and gave away one goal to send the game to overtime, in which Wild scored another goal to win the game.
Panthers’ coach, Kevin Dineen, said after the game:
"We haven't taken the easy path all year long. It's been an up and down season, and we scratch and claw, and all our games have been so close that sometimes we end up on the wrong side of it."
Blue Jackets
They are already eliminated from the playoff contention and are placed at the bottom of the Western Conference with 57 points after 77 games.
Out of the last five games, Blue Jackets have lost three. In their last game, Blue Jackets defeated Detroit Red Wings.
Columbus scored twice in the first period while giving away one goal. They added two more goals in the second and scored another in the final in which Red Wings scored their second goal.
The final score settled at 4-2.
Blue Jackets’ interim coach, Todd Richards, said after the game:
"I thought we got exactly what we deserved. We came out and played hard against a good team ... As bad a feeling as it was after Monday's game, it was a great way to respond."
Predictions
Panthers could win.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Blue Jackets win, the winning margin will be two or more goals.
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