NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with the Thursday night’s matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
This game is the start of a home-and-home that will wrap up the season series between Columbus and Pittsburgh. The Penguins have won both meetings so far, including their game last week in Columbus. Overall, the Pens have won seven in a row in the regular season vs. the Blue Jackets.
This home-and-home series figures to have massive implications on the playoff race. Entering this game, just two points separate third in the Metro from being outside of the playoffs entirely.
Columbus picked up a much-needed two points on Tuesday with their 2-1 shootout win over New Jersey. The Jackets had been 1-3-0 since the trade deadline, so the win was a tangible measure of progress to keep them right in the playoff mix. However, the reaction in the locker room afterwards was hardly celebratory. The Jackets played very poorly, mustering only 18 shots on goal (a season-low) against a Devils team that had nearly half of its regular lineup out due to injury.
Pittsburgh also went past regulation on Tuesday, defeating Florida 3-2 in OT, thanks to Jake Guentzel’s second goal of the game. He now has 33 goals this season. Sidney Crosby had three points to surpass the 1,200-point threshold. [WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 6 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Where: PPG Paints Arena When: Thursday, March 7, 6 p.m. ET TV: NBCSN Live stream: You can watch the Blue Jackets-Penguins stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BLUE JACKETS Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Josh Anderson Nick Foligno - Matt Duchene - Cam Atkinson Ryan Dzingel - Alex Wennberg - Oliver Bjorkstrand Brandon Dubinsky - Boone Jenner - Riley Nash
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones Markus Nutivaara - David Savard Scott Harrington - Adam McQuaid
Starting goalie: Joonas Korpisalo
PENGUINS Jared McCann - Sidney Crosby - Jake Guentzel Zach Aston-Reese - Evgeni Malkin - Phil Kessel Dominik Simon - Nick Bjugstad - Patric Hornqvist Teddy Blueger - Matt Cullen - Garrett Wilson
Brian Dumoulin - Zach Trotman Jack Johnson - Justin Schultz Marcus Pettersson - Erik Gudbranson
Starting goalie: Matt Murray
John Forslund (play-by-play) and AJ Mleczko (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from Pittsburgh. Pre-game coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET with NHL Live, hosted by Paul Burmeister alongside Jeremy Roenick and Mike Johnson.