SJ

 

CBJ

15-19-2

ROAD / HOME

20-8-7

3.00

GOALS FOR

3.14

3.57

GOALS AGAINST

3.03

19.8%

POWER PLAY

20.0%

79.0%

PENALTY KILL

78.2%

25.9

SHOTS FOR

29.8

29.9

SHOTS AGAINST

28.9

47.4%

FACEOFF %

50.5%

SHARKS: LAST THREE GAMES 

SAT, 3/21

vs. Flyers

L, 4-1

TUE, 3/24

@ Predators

L, 6-3

THU, 3/26

@ Blues

OTL, 2-1

SHARKS: TEAM LEADERS

GOALS

Macklin Celebrini

35

ASSISTS

Macklin Celebrini

61

POINTS

Macklin Celebrini

96

ODDS & PROJECTIONS

 CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK:

68%

CBJ ODDS PER DRAFTKINGS:

-205

With the Eastern Conference playoff push in full swing, the Columbus Blue Jackets (38-23-11, 87 points) are back on home ice Saturday to begin a crucial, three-game homestand.

Their opponent: Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks (32-31-7, 71 points). 

RELATED CBJ Playoff Chase Tracker

The Blue Jackets enter the day tied with the New York Islanders for third in the Metropolitan Division, but only one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for second.

On the flip side of that, two teams — the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators — are just one point behind the Blue Jackets, and both of those teams currently sit outside of the playoff picture.

In other words: it’s close.

Here are five things to know before the early, 5:00 p.m. puck-drop:

San Jose comes to Columbus on a six-game losing streak, allowing 29 goals (4.83 per game) during that stretch. … The Sharks are tied for the fifth-fewest points in the league —but are also just six points behind the second wild card spot, with two games in hand over the current owners of that spot, the Nashville Predators. The western conference, folks. … Celebrini’s 96 points this season (35 goals, 61 assists) are more than twice that of anyone else on the Sharks. Will Smith is second, with 47 points.
 

The Blue Jackets are 5-0-3 at home since the Olympic break, and 9-0-3 in their last 12 at Nationwide Arena. That’s tied for the longest home point streak in franchise history. They also went 9-0-3 between Feb. 11 and Mar. 31, 2013. Overall, the team has at least a point in 16 of their last 17 contests in front of the 5th Line.
 

No goalie announcement has been made official as of late Saturday morning, but Elvis Merzlikins was the first goalie off the ice Friday — usually a sign of who gets the starting net in the next game. Merzlikins has allowed two goals in each of his last three starts, with the Blue Jackets picking up five of the possible six points in that span.
 

Zach Werenski was held without a point Thursday, meaning he now needs 10 points to tie — and 11 to break — Artemi Panarin’s club record of 87 points in a single season, set during the 2018-19 campaign. Werenski has 21 goals and 56 assists for 77 points with ten games left in the season. A point-a-game pace would tie Panarin’s mark.
 

The injury Thursday to Damon Severson is one that will keep him out for a while, according to head coach Rick Bowness. He’s officially listed as week-to-week. Look for Egor Zamula to come into his place, with Denton Mateychuk bumped up to the second pairing and Dante Fabbro to the first. Here are the complete projections:

LW

C

RW

17

Mason Marchment

19

Adam Fantilli

86

Kirill Marchenko

43

Danton Heinen

23

Sean Monahan

83

Conor Garland

4

Cole Sillinger

3

Charlie Coyle

24

Mathieu Olivier

11

Miles Wood

38

Boone Jenner

21

Isac Lundeström

LD

RD

8

Zach Werenski

15

Dante Fabbro

9

Ivan Provorov

5

Denton Mateychuk

6

Egor Zamula

44

Erik Gudbranson

Starting Goalie

Back-Up

90

Elvis Merzlikins

73

Jet Greaves