SETTING THE STAGE:The Blue Jackets are optimistic that they'll get a significant piece of their puzzle back for Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sergei Bobrovsky has missed the last three games while battling an illness, and he returned to practice as planned on Monday morning at Nationwide Arena. Provided he's back to 100 percent and feeling fit to play, he will be between the pipes for the first time since a Jan. 8 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
And the Blue Jackets know they need him. Yes, Joonas Korpisalo played very well on Friday night in Tampa and helped Columbus get a 3-1 win on the road, but Bobrovsky has been the backbone of a franchise-best start that has the Blue Jackets lingering around the top of the NHL standings. As Bob goes, they go: he has recorded 26 of their 29 wins on the season, and is among the league leaders in save percentage.
The week ahead will not be easy, either. The Blue Jackets twice face a Carolina team that has been on quite a tear, making a charge up the standings and into the Eastern Conference playoff conversation. Columbus dropped a 4-3 decision to the Hurricanes last week at PNC Arena, and they'll face each other twice this week at Nationwide Arena (Tuesday and Saturday).
NOTEWORTHY NEWS: Markus Nutivaara missed practice on Monday and could be out a bit longer. He's considered day-to-day due to an injury, coach John Tortorella said, and has been ruled out for Tuesday's game. Scott Harrington will draw into the lineup in his place. Expect the Blue Jackets to go with the same lines that were used over the weekend in Florida.
PROJECTED CBJ LINEUP:
Saad - Wennberg - Foligno
Jenner - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Calvert - Karlsson - Anderson
Hartnell - Sedlak - Gagner
Werenski - Jones
Johnson - Savard
Murray - Harrington
Bobrovsky
