![The battle between Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and the Lightning scorers like center Tyler Johnson (9) and right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) will be one of the key matchups. [DIRK SHADD | Times]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//8R2Diz4HNAeojsoPQqcH9hLa-gs=/426x0/smart/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4GLMIUSYHNBEFCFSIRBQTELGNY.JPG "The battle between Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and the Lightning scorers like center Tyler Johnson (9) and right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) will be one of the key matchups. [DIRK SHADD | Times]")
TAMPA — Here are six matchups that could define the Tampa Bay Lightning-Columbus Blue Jackets best-of-seven series, which starts at 7 p.m. today at Amalie Arena:
Two-time Vezina winner against All-Star forwards
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/5BVLRNSECVEG5MKRRUASP72CP4.jpg "Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86), of Russia, scores past Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72), of Russia, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)")
It’s no secret that without goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus’ defense would be toast. The two-time Vezina-winner goaltender has made 1,603 saves on the season, but he’ll be going head-to-head with three 40-goal scorers on the Lightning’s roster. Bobrovsky is on a hot streak coming into the first round, but his post-season record doesn’t speak for his regular season success. In the playoffs with Columbus, he’s 3-8 with an .897 save percentage and averages 3.49 goals against, which is one more goal per game than his career regular season average with the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky will be challenged this series facing stars like Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning All-Star that led the league in points and became the highest-scoring Russian player in NHL history with 128 points on the season.
Lightning vs. two scoring lines
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7D5K2TCSDJC75JRQCLBD3OSGSU.JPG "DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) works to move the puck against Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) during the first period at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Thursday, March 7, 2019.")
There haven’t been too many teams in the league this year with two solid scoring lines, but Columbus is one of them. Between the Blue Jackets’ starting two lines, four of the six are 20-goal scorers. Cam Atkinson leads Columbus’ roster with 41 goals, but it’s the first time in a while a depth-oriented team like Tampa Bay has had to truly depend on that depth to get them through the matchup. The additions of Matt Ducheneand Ryan Dzingel will be crucial to see in action down the stretch. Tampa Bay’s top two defensemen pairs — Dan Girardi-Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh-Erik Cernak — will have their hands full against two Columbus scoring lines.
The Blue Jackets’ X-Man
![With 19 points in 18 games against the Lightning, the Blue Jackets' Matt Duchene is a scorer who could catch fire against Tampa Bay. [Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press via AP]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//zdlHeh00YYvT2WvLMAFOulgQl8o=/620x0/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/NMSHYFJG2ZFPLMPC633AKDS7CM.jpg "With 19 points in 18 games against the Lightning, the Blue Jackets' Matt Duchene is a scorer who could catch fire against Tampa Bay. [Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press via AP]")
Speaking of Duchene, it’s easy to say he could potentially be the X-Factor in all of this. He hasn’t contributed that much to the front two lines (only four goals) but Columbus will depend him for depth scoring. Duchene only has eight playoff games under his belt and none of them have finished with a goal on his record. However, he has 19 points in 18 games against Tampa Bay. The danger with Duchene doesn’t lie in the fact he hasn’t done much in Columbus but that he has proven throughout his career to be a goal-scorer. He could go off in this series. Against Andrei Vasilevskiy, he’ll need everything he has. The All-Star goaltender led the league with wins (39) after missing almost an entire month’s worth of play.
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Explore all your optionsScoring pace vs. playoffs
![The Lightning's Brayden Point will be looked upon to continue his scoring despite the challenges from players like Columbus' Oliver Bjorkstrand. [PAUL VERNON | AP]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//nm0QgairmzOohD-rCD3yL4v-Bnw=/620x0/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/AOBESBPLFFGXVD2ARGZZQYQRHI.jpg "The Lightning's Brayden Point will be looked upon to continue his scoring despite the challenges from players like Columbus' Oliver Bjorkstrand. [PAUL VERNON | AP]")
With the playoffs underway on Wednesday, goals won’t come as easily as they used to for the Lightning, which notched a franchise record 319 goals on the season, the highest in the league. Games will be tighter in the post-season, there’s no doubt about it. Tampa Bay’s three 40-goal scorers have led the way: Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point. But can the Lightning keep up the same pace its kept all season?
Faceoffs set the tone
![Lightning center Steven Stamkos' ability to win faceoffs will be one of the facotors in the key matchups against Columbus. [DIRK SHADD | Times]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//myHPh1flPTo1YBGYnwvOeq1Os0c=/620x0/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EW5EGCZKO5DIVLUMHCHTOFJC5I.JPG "Lightning center Steven Stamkos' ability to win faceoffs will be one of the facotors in the key matchups against Columbus. [DIRK SHADD | Times]")
Jon Cooper finds faceoffs “extremely important.” You’re chasing the puck around all night and here are 60 to 80 chances to get it in a set situation. You have a chance to control play, either to set up a goal or clear the puck out of the defensive zone. It’s one of the reasons why Stamkos’ presence on the ice is so crucial. He’s won 506 faceoffs this season, the most in his career since his 2011-12 season with Tampa Bay (558) and the most on this year’s roster. Boone Jenner leads the Blue Jackets with 626 faceoff wins, the most on his team by a margin of 171.
Goals are a premium, so take them when you can
![Blue Jackets all-star defenseman Seth Jones will be one of the keys when Columbus' top-notch penalty kill unit challenges the Lightning's equally adept power play. [GERRY BROOME | AP]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//_aabp87w6tOkElnKEG0Wg5E01cU=/620x0/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/ECSSDWP3Z5AIFIUN5PBYIDBTFU.jpg "Blue Jackets all-star defenseman Seth Jones will be one of the keys when Columbus' top-notch penalty kill unit challenges the Lightning's equally adept power play. [GERRY BROOME | AP]")
Hedman is back at the point on the league’s most potent power play. The Lightning have the most goals on the fourth-most power plays whereas Columbus has allowed the least amount of power play opportunities. The power play against record of 200 is the lowest in the league. Not only is Columbus not allowing hardly any power play opportunities, but it’s killing them when the opportunities come up for other teams. Josh Anderson, Seth Jones and Jenner have been the shutdown trio for the Blue Jackets on the power play and that’s not expected to change.
Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@tampabay.com. Follow @faiello_mari.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/21b75d52-4a18-452e-a6a4-f4d5e582e31e.jpg "Mari Faiello - Engagement Producer")
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