Columbus-Nashville: Does Darth Vader strike back?

The Jackets take on the Nashville Predators for the fifth time tonight.

Columbus is 1-3 against them so far this season, but got the better of them last time in a 2-1 shootout win.

So the question I have is does "Darth Vader" (the name given to the Preds by Hitch) strike back tonight?

The Preds have lost two straight and will surely be motivated tonight as the team they've owned comes to town. Columbus has been its medicine to a bad cold in recent years, so to speak.

They've been slump busters.

The Jackets, who lost in their last outing on the ice, will look to rebound against those pesky Preds.

Will they be able to build upon their break though victory the last time they met? Can't they turn the tables on the Preds and make them slump busters?

Keys to lighting 'em up

Play your game.

Hitch said it in the paper this morning, the Jackets got away from the game that makes them successful. That's a tight-checking, know your role, know your system, everyone competes style of play.

The Jackets tried to get to cute on multiple occasions, but missed assignments and didn't make the Coyotes work hard enough for their goals. That can't happen tonight if the Jackets want to be successful and grab the all-important two points.

Leclaire.

The goalie needs to be our best player on the road. He let in a couple of goals he normally stops, but unfortunately, with our offense the way it is, this team can't afford that. 

Offense.

The Rick and Nik show stalled a bit on Tuesday. Nash looked tired from the All-Star break and Nik looked rusty after his break in Florida. They'll need these two to be the offensive catalysts tonight.

Build off momentum of past win.

The Jackets finally broke through against the Preds and they know they can beat these guys. They owe them a couple of good thumpings. The mindset needs to be to not just beat these guys, but pound on 'em, mop 'em up. The Jackets are due to lay down a good ass-kicking tonight and who better to do that against than the Preds in their house.

Don't use Shelley as an excuse.

Jody Shelley was a great Jacket and a great leader. The Jackets can't use his trade as an excuse to come out flat or play poorly. At the end of the day, this is a business and each player has a job to do. Player movement is an inevitable part of the business whether they (or the fans) like it or not. The time to move forward is now.

Controlling the Preds’ high tempo at home.

Hitch mentioned on his radio show the Preds play different at home than on the road. On the road, they are a careful conservative bunch. At home, they play more of a wide-open style and Columbus can't get caught reacting to that. They need to be ready and stick to their game-play and they need to dictate how the game flows.

The Preds are a pretty tough group to play against at home, as they are 14-8-2 there. That's good, but not world class. This team can easily be beaten at home.

Arnott and Dumont.

They are the Nash and Z of the Predators. Keep these two off the scoreboard and the Jackets stand a good chance at winning this game.

Special teams identical.

The Preds are 26th on the PP and fourth on the PK. The Jackets are 25th on the PP and third on the PK. Pretty obvious to me whoever can muster up a goal on the PP gains the advantage here.

Tootoo.

I just want to see Boll take care of this guy. Tootoo just signed an extension btw, so Jacket fans get used to seeing this clown for a few more years.

SCORE FIRST (you knew it was comin!)

Will the B's play together? Boll, Brassard, Brule? This could be an interesting line or at least something to watch for. A goal from this group would go a long way toward a win.

Columbus has responded well after losses, but another challenge looms tonight.

Another big two points. Both teams are still right in the thick of it for a playoff spot and both should go after each other hard.

GO JACKETS!