Preview: Game 3 is on tap as the series shifts to Ohio

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 7 PM

Where: Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio

How to follow: NBCSN, CBC, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN site: Jackets Cannon

Know your enemy

• Points: Artemi Panarin, 9
• Goals: Matt Duchene/Panarin, 4
• Assists: Seth Jones, 6

Game notes

• The second round hits Ohio! This will be the first time Nationwide Arena has ever hosted a second-round playoff game. It’d be a real shame for the Bruins to spoil the party. Real shame.
• Artemi Panarin is pretty much the only reason this series isn’t 2-0 Bruins. He’s essentially all Columbus has in terms of 5v5 offense, and is excellent on the power play as well. He has at least one point in all 6 playoff games for Columbus. If the Bruins can put a lid on him, Columbus doesn’t have much else.
• The Bruins had a hard-earned day off Sunday, and Bruce Cassidy encouraged them to enjoy it by doing...whatever they wanted, really. It’ll be interesting to see if the little break gives the Bruins some jump.
• Based on Monday’s practice, it seems like Karson Kuhlman will be playing tonight, with Chris Wagner sitting. It’s entirely possible Cassidy throws a curveball last minute, but it seems like the Bruins have liked what Kuhlman has brought thus far. The potential third line of Marcus Johansson, Charlie Coyle and David Pastrnak could be huge for the Bruins. Cassidy will likely continue to use Pastrnak as a bit of a rover, plugging him in on lines 1 and 2 as he sees necessary.
• Tuukka Rask has been down and up in his last two starts at Nationwide. Back on March 12, he gave up 5 goals in a 7-4 loss; on April 2, he allowed 2 goals in a 6-2 Bruins thumping.
• That April 2 beating is the only time Columbus has lost at home since March 3. NOT BAD.
• Expect the Blue Jackets to come out flying, probably moreso than the Leafs did in Game 3 in Toronto. The Bruins may hunker down and try to weather the storm early, but I’d argue it’d be better to go on the attack: try to take the game to Columbus early and take the crowd out of it. Easier said than done, of course...
• Sean Kuraly is getting a lot of press in advance of this game, as he is from Dublin, Ohio. Google Maps tells me Dublin is a 21-minute drive from Nationwide Arena, with no traffic, of course. Kuraly was a Blue Jackets fan as a kid. He has yet to record a point in 5 career games against his hometown team. Let’s change that this evening.

See ya tonight!