3 Takeaways: Blue Jackets Game 75

One. The Columbus Blue Jackets have played 41 games in Nashville. Their all-time record on the Predators’ home ice? 8-27-1-5. Only five of those eight wins came in regulation. The fate of tonight’s game was rough for the Blue Jackets from the start, as they were outshot 27-10 and found themselves down 2-1 at the end of the first period. The night kept getting worse for the Jackets as they eventually lost 5-1 and had just 19 shots on goal to the Predators’ 48. Shots on goal were the story of the last two games in Columbus’ favor, but tonight, the roles were reversed and the Predators made them pay.

Two. The most obvious storyline tonight was Seth Jones vs. Ryan Johansen, who both faced their former teams for the first time since the Jan. 6 trade. Johansen was involved in post-whistle tussles from the get-go, and even put former teammate Boone Jenner in a headlock in the second period. Jones nerves showed early and he was split up from his typical defensive partner Ryan Murray soon after puck drop. It’s pretty tough to compare the performance of a shut-down defenseman against a top-line center, but Johansen did a great job of showing his former teammates why he and his team are 7-0-3 at home in their last 10 games and the hottest team in the NHL since since Feb. 12 with a 14-2-5 record.

Three. The one bright spot tonight was Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo’s play, despite giving up five goals. With the Blue Jackets evaluating their future options, Korpisalo’s performance has shown the most promise, but the team is also evaluating forward Oliver Bjorkstrand and will keep close tabs on defenseman Zach Werenski, a 2015 first-round draft pick whose Michigan Wolverines lost in the NCAA Tournament tonight. Expect to see more AHL players called up and for Werenski to potentially sign a contract in the coming days.

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