Nationwide Arena Showdown: Blue Jackets Host Predators in Battle on Ice

As the Columbus Blue Jackets gear up to host the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an electrifying encounter. The Blue Jackets have been showing a mixed bag of results lately, but their recent performance against the New York Rangers showcased their potential when they play on home ice.

In that game, Columbus displayed a strong offensive front, netting four goals from 41 shots and converting one out of three powerplay opportunities. Their shooting percentage stood at ten percent, which is double that of their previous game against the Buffalo Sabres where they only managed one goal from 26 shots and had a shooting percentage of four percent. Despite losing to the Sabres with a final scoreline reflecting only two goals conceded, it was clear that creating scoring chances wasn't an issue; rather, capitalizing on them was.

Defensively speaking, there's room for improvement as well. The team's faceoff win percentage has hovered around mid-forties in recent games – 44 percent against the Rangers and 47 percent versus the Sabres – indicating that possession battles could be key areas to address.

The goaltending has been solid with save percentages maintaining at or near one hundred percent over these games. This reliability between the pipes will need to continue if they are to stifle Nashville's attackers.

Looking ahead to their matchup with Nashville Predators, maintaining this level of goaltending excellence while ramping up conversion rates will be crucial for Columbus. Fans can expect an intense battle as both teams vie for dominance in this upcoming game.

The action unfolds on March 9th at Nationwide Arena starting at 5:30 PM local time (17:30 +00:00 UTC). For those unable to attend in person, you can catch all the excitement live via ESPN+ online or BSOH and BSSO television networks.