Columbus @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2019 ) Columbus 4, Tampa Bay 3

The Columbus Blue Jackets gained plenty of confidence from a shocking comeback victory to open the Eastern Conference first-round series and look to match that effort when they visit the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 2 on Friday. The Blue Jackets trailed by three goals through 29 minutes, but scored twice on special teams in the third period for a 4-3 victory Wednesday as they try to win their first playoff series in franchise history.

“I think it just shows us that we can battle against them,” Columbus defenseman David Savard told reporters after scoring the second goal Wednesday. “It’s good for us and we just have to believe in our game plan and stay focused. We don’t really need to think about the outcome. I think if we play like this we have a chance of winning and to be in every game.” Tampa Bay opened the scoring in Game 1 with Alex Killorn’s short-handed goal, but gave up the tying goal while on a four-minute power play in the third period and Seth Jones got the winner with the man advantage. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh said the Lightning took their foot off the gas pedal, captain Steven Stamkos called it a lesson and coach Jon Cooper told reporters his team’s biggest problem was itself. “We played with a ton of emotion in the first period and the building was jumping,” Cooper said. “We clearly had them on their heels and you build that lead which is what you want to do, and I think our mentality was we want to outscore them tonight instead of build the lead and shut them down.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CNBC, TVA, Sportsnet360; FS Ohio (Columbus), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky came into the series with an .891 career playoff save percentage and gave up two goals on the first four shots he faced Wednesday, but turned aside all 16 in the final two periods. “In Bob’s behalf, it’s pretty hard when the first shot is a breakaway goal,” coach John Tortorella said. “. ... We don’t have a chance if he doesn’t play the way he played the last 40 (minutes).” Power forward Josh Anderson deflected a McDonagh pass, leading to captain Nick Foligno’s breakaway goal that made it 3-1 in the second period Wednesday, and later wheeled through the slot to score the tying goal while short-handed.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay owned the best power play (28.2 percent) and penalty kill (85.02) in the league through the regular season, but its special teams let them down Wednesday - especially in the third period. “We get that four-minute (power play) and a chance to bury them and we give up a shorty,” Stamkos said. “We just have to learn from this. … Guys should be mad, but it’s not going to be easy this time of year. We’ve been in this position before. We just got to get the next one.” Right wing Nikita Kucherov, who led the league with 128 points, was kept off the scoresheet in Game 1 and had two shots along with two giveaways.

OVERTIME

1. The Lightning are 4-7 in Game 1 of their last 11 playoff series and have come back to win eight of the past 10 Game 2s.

2. Columbus F Alexandre Texier, who played just two regular-season games, was a plus-1 in 13 minutes, 8 seconds of playing time Wednesday.

3. Tampa Bay D Anton Stralman (lower body) sat out Game 1 and Cooper told reporters the veteran is working through some things.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Blue Jackets 1