Game 6 (X) Preview: Veterans Feelin' Minnesota

After earning their first shootout win in nearly a year against the Wild's NHL squad on Tuesday with a squad of younger players and guys who were sent down to the AHL the next day, the Jackets send a lineup loaded with veterans to head into the Xcel Energy Center to see if they can win at the X for the first time since 2007.

Game Time: 8:00ET

Opponent's Blog: Hockey Wilderness

TV: Tape delayed on NHL Network

Radio: WWCD-FM (102.5)

More after the jump...

Columbus Blue Jackets stats - Columbus Blue Jackets roster

Columbus Blue Jackets schedule 

Lineups:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Injured / Sick: Gustaf Wesslau, Tomas Kana, Kris Russell

Minnesota is not expected to make any changes to their lineup from the squad we saw on Tuesday, aside from holding out the recovering Marek Zidlicky. I'd expect them to play a fairly conservative game, given that they'll be leaving from this game to fly to Finland to prep for their European Premier matches against Carolina.

With the exception of LeNeveu, Moreau, and Savard, this could have been a lineup from any game after the post-Olympic break - and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. These guys will know how to play with each other, and if they can find some momentum early, could use that to really push the Wild out of their comfort zone. Watch for Hejda and Savard to spend a lot of time trying to shut down Mikko Koivu, Matt Cullen, and Martin Havlat tonight. I'd expect that Niklas Backstrom will get the start, but the Wild could surprise us and give AHL hot shot Anton Khudobin a look, since he's making a case to get the full time backup spot with Harding on the IR.