The Pittsburgh Penguins face the Columbus Blue Jackets in game 4 of their NHL playoff series at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, April 18.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to keep their season alive in Game 4. The Pittsburgh Penguins have won the first three games and outscored the Columbus 12-5.
Columbus needs Sergei Bobrovsky to rediscover his regular season form. The Russian goalie was considered the favorite to win his second career Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie after he posted a .931 save percentage. In the playoffs, Bobrovsky has been awful. The 28-year-old has just an .897 save percentage through the first three games against Pittsburgh. If the Blue Jackets are going to avoid the sweep they need Bobrovsky to hold the Penguins to two or fewer goals.
The Blue Jackets will be without defenseman Zach Werenski for the rest of the playoffs. After a great rookie season, Werenski suffered due to a facial fracture in Game 3.
The Penguins offense is firing on all cylinders. Evgeni Malkin missed the last three weeks of the regular season but has six points in the first three games against Columbus. Pittsburgh winger Jake Guentzel has scored four goals and Sidney Crosby has five points. If Columbus can not stop Pittsburgh’s top two lines, Game 4 will likely be the end of the series.
Next: 5 players to watch in the NHL playoffs
Date: Tuesday, April 18
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: Pittsburgh 3-0
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Stadium: Nationwide Arena
TV Info: CNBC, Sportsnet 360 (Canada)
Live Stream: NBC Sports, Sportsnet Now
If the Blue Jackets were to win the next four games, they would become the fifth team in NHL history to come back from a three-game deficit in the playoffs. With the Penguins playing as well as they have in the first three games, they could be looking at another long playoff run.