Blue Jackets at Canucks
March has been exceptionally kind to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are 12-1-0 in their last 13 contests overall and have set franchise record for goals in a month with 59. Artemi Panarin has erupted for 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in March and aims to add to that total on Saturday as the Blue Jackets wrap up a three-game road trip versus the Vancouver Canucks.
Panarin set up a pair of Pierre-Luc Dubois' three goals in Thursday's 5-1 romp over Calgary to boost his assist total to 47, tying his career high while moving within one of matching David Vyborny (2006-07) and Andrew Cassels (2002-03) for second place in franchise history -- five shy of Ray Whitney's 52 in 2002-03. Sergei Bobrovsky has regained his form after dropping seven of eight decisions from Jan. 11-Feb. 9, posting a 14-4-1 mark with a .933 save percentage to move Columbus within one point of second-place Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division. The Canucks had their way with the two-time Vezina Trophy winner in a 5-2 triumph on Jan. 12, and have scored 16 goals en route to winning four of their last five contests. Sam Gagner has scored three goals and set up another in his last five games overall and had an assist in the first encounter with the Blue Jackets.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), Sportsnet 360 (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (44-29-5): Thomas Vanek appears to have made himself at home with Columbus after suiting up for eight different teams since the start of the 2013-14 season. Acquired from Vancouver prior to the trade deadline, the 34-year-old Austrian rebounded from being held off the scoresheet in his first four games by collecting for 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his last 11. "I'm making my own judgment," coach John Tortorella said. "I don't see some of the things that people are afraid of with this guy (Vanek), as far as attitude. He's receptive, he's intelligent, he drives me nuts sometimes, but he is a really good player and (he's) really helped us try to find our way."
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (29-40-9): Jacob Markstrom turned aside 35 shots in Thursday's 2-1 win over Edmonton and has permitted just five goals while improving to 4-0-0 in his last four starts. "For me right now it's just a carry-over from the feeling I had in the previous games," the 28-year-old Swede said. "I just keep building on it. While Markstrom is healthy, Vancouver elected to recall fellow goaltender Thatcher Demko, 22, from Utica of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions on Friday as backup Anders Nilsson struggles with an illness.
OVERTIME
1. Dubois, 19, recorded his first NHL hat trick on Thursday to push his goal total to a franchise rookie-best 18, surpassing former team captain Rick Nash in 2002-03.
2. Vancouver LW Jussi Jokinen has five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 contests since being acquired as part of the deal for Vanek.
3. Columbus F Cam Atkinson carries a six-game point streak (four goals, four assists) into Saturday's tilt.