by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Apr 22, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Where to watch: Bally Sports Ohio, TSN5, RDS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
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BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
Senators: 29-41-7
Blue Jackets: 35-36-6
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Senators - Blue Jackets preview and analysis
It’s all about playing for next season with both the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. Maybe one day they’ll face each other in the playoffs, and that’ll be an enjoyable time with this collection of young talent that will arrive.
But right now, it’s about establishing the foundation for the future when the Senators meet the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday. Neither of these teams are going to be contending for the playoffs, but if you’re a fan of the prospects of what can be at some point, watch this one.
The Senators are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday that almost saw them pulling off the upset in regulation. That ended Vancouver’s six-game winning streak, where I’d guess Mark Stone sent a big fruit basket to his former team but threw out a few oranges by way of the Canucks getting one point.
Alex Formenton scored two of Ottawa’s three goals, and Filip Gustavsson made 34 saves for his first victory since *checks notes* Nov. 13? What in the world was this kid doing in his last eight starts? Poor man has had to deal with a long time inbetween wins.
"We just played with way more emotion," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. "We knew it was an important game for them, and we haven't played in a whole lot of them, and you can see our guys, we got down early but we stayed with it."
The Senators have a lot to improve upon before being considered a team that can make a run for one of those lower-tier playoff seeds. Thomas Chabot currently isn’t healthy, but getting him back next year will help. Another year of Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris and others will help in the development. Jake Sanderson will be coming into another full year, which means the youth is on the way.
It’s goaltending that needs to be answered, and wether or not Anton Forsberg is the answer going forward. It unfortunately might not be Matt Murray, but that ship might be sailing right out of Ottawa at some point.
The Blue Jackets are coming into this battle of the futures after losing 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, a matchup that ended the Sharks’ 10-game losing streak, which is another issue for another day.
Columbus, without defenseman Zach Werenski and forward Patrik Laine, kept things close for the most point. Jack Roslovic scored twice but it wasn’t enough to end the California road trip on a positive spin.
"This whole road trip has been two goals we got down within the first period," Roslovic said. "We can't try to come back every night, it's just too difficult to do in this league. It's just about being mentally focused right from the first puck drop. I guess we just didn't have it this road trip."
The Blue Jackets are also on the youth train and thinking of the future. Cole Sillinger has produced this year in his rookie season, and the hope is that Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg will transition the Michigan magic over to Columbus at some point.
Prediction
It’s a much-needed return home for Columbus and I think that’ll be the deciding factor here. While the Senators are playing strong down the stretch, that losing streak is more an outlier than anything. Give me the Jackets to get back on track. Blue Jackets win 4-2
Betting trends
Senators are 3-13 this season off two straight non-conference games.
Senators are 0-8 this season after a game where both teams scored at least three goals.
Blue Jackets are 12-14 off an over this season.
Projected lines
Senators:
Brady Tkachuk -- Josh Norris -- Connor Brown
Alex Formenton -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Austin Watson -- Dylan Gambrell -- Parker Kelly
Adam Gaudette -- Chris Tierney -- Zach Senyshyn
Erik Brannstrom -- Artem Zub
Michael Del Zotto -- Travis Hamonic
Nick Holden -- Nikita Zaitsev
Anton Forsberg
Brady Tkachuk -- Josh Norris -- Connor Brown
Alex Formenton -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Austin Watson -- Dylan Gambrell -- Parker Kelly
Adam Gaudette -- Chris Tierney -- Zach Senyshyn
Erik Brannstrom -- Artem Zub
Michael Del Zotto -- Travis Hamonic
Nick Holden -- Nikita Zaitsev
Anton Forsberg
Blue Jackets:
Kent Johnson -- Jack Roslovic -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Gustav Nyquist -- Cole Sillinger -- Jakub Voracek
Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Justin Danforth
Emil Bemstrom -- Brendan Gaunce -- Carson Meyer
Vladislav Gavrikov -- Nick Blankenburg
Jake Bean -- Andrew Peeke
Adam Boqvist -- Gavin Bayreuther
Elvis Merzlikins
Kent Johnson -- Jack Roslovic -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Gustav Nyquist -- Cole Sillinger -- Jakub Voracek
Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Justin Danforth
Emil Bemstrom -- Brendan Gaunce -- Carson Meyer
Vladislav Gavrikov -- Nick Blankenburg
Jake Bean -- Andrew Peeke
Adam Boqvist -- Gavin Bayreuther
Elvis Merzlikins
Statistical leaders
Senators:
Points: Brady Tkachuk -- 60
Goals: Josh Norris -- 33
Assists: Tim Stutzle -- 33
Goalie: Anton Forsberg -- 19-17-4, 2.79 GAA, .917 SV%
Blue Jackets:
Points: Patrik Laine -- 56
Goals: Patrik Laine -- 26
Assists: Jakub Voracek -- 51
Goalie: Elvis Merzlikins -- 25-21-6, 3.32 GAA, .905 SV%
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
