SETTING THE STAGE: In the last few days, more and more people have pointed to this game between the Blue Jackets and Wild. But unless both teams won their games up to this point, there wouldn't be much of a story. Now that there is, both coaches have vocalized their thoughts on what has become a historic New Year's Eve game in St. Paul.
The Blue Jackets have won 14 straight games. That's a franchise record. The Wild have won 12 straight games, also a franchise record. Columbus' 14-game streak is tied for fourth-longest in the 99-year history of the NHL, and only four teams have boasted a longer streak than what the Blue Jackets are currently on. The last team to win 15 in a row was the 2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins, and they also own the NHL's record-long win streak of 17, which they accomplished during the 1992-93 season.
But that's all part of the back story. John Tortorella wants his players to embrace the moment, but remember not to make too much of what is, in the grand scheme, only their 35th game of 82 in the regular season. He said both teams should be proud of what they've put together leading into this game, but once it's all said and done, one streak will live on while the other team will prepare for its next game like business as usual.
Columbus' 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night brought them to this point. The Blue Jackets weren't perfect in that game, but Tortorella thought their 5-on-5 game improved from their Tuesday win over Boston, which he termed "a slop fest." Two goals from Alexnader Wennberg, who is a point-per-game player over his last 12 games, helped lead the way for the Blue Jackets.
Here's the final pre-game note: when the puck drops on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center, it will mark the first time in major pro sports history that two teams with active winning streaks of 12 games or more faced off in the same game.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS: Markus Hannikainen joined the Blue Jackets for their game in Winnipeg as the team's extra forward, but he was reassigned to Cleveland (AHL) on Friday morning. Don't expect any lineup changes for Saturday's game. Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to get the start in goal for Columbus.
PROJECTED CBJ LINEUP:
Saad - Wennberg - Foligno
Jenner - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Calvert - Karlsson - Anderson
Hartnell - Sedlak - Gagner
Werenski - Jones
Johnson - Savard
Murray - Nutivaara
Bobrovsky
