Every year I always seem to say this: those damned Preds! Nashville comes to town for the first time this season, after going 2-0 so far against the Jackets in Nashville. The Jackets have dug themselves in a hole whereby they have to win games from here out, plain and simple. They play in the best division in hockey so intra-division games are crucial.
Some lineup changes of note- Chimmer moves up with Vermmy and Nasher, and there's a new line of Modin, Brass and Torres. That one sounds interesting, a little bit of everything. With Dorsett out with a broken hand, Murray goes back into the lineup on the checking unit with Sammy and Boller. Mase gets the start against Rinne.
I can't stress the importance of these games. The Jackets desperately need to go on a winning streak, why not start tonight?
Fearless Prediction: A win, please.
Game Time: 7:00pm ET
Opponent's Blog: On the Forecheck
Game Page: Predators vs Blue Jackets Coverage
TSN Preview: Predators vs Blue Jackets Preview
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump...
From the Columbus Dispatch:
A meeting of polar opposites: The Blue Jackets are a skilled club that lacks resiliency and on-ice cohesion; the Predators make up for a lack of high-end talent with immense resolve. The previous two meetings, both in Nashville, ended in 4-3 shootout wins for the Predators. The Blue Jackets won all three meetings in Nationwide Arena last season.
Jackets Links:
Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule
Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats
Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Jason Chimera |
Antoine Vermette |
Rick Nash |
|
Kristian Huselius |
R.J. Umberger |
Jakub Voracek |
| Andrew Murray | Samuel Pahlsson |
Jared Boll |
| Fredrik Modin |
Derick Brassard |
Raffi Torres |
| Fedor Tyutin | Anton Stralman |
| Mike Commodore |
Jan Hejda |
| Kris Russell |
Marc Methot |
| Steve Mason |
| Mathieu Garon |
| EXTRA: Michael Blunden, Mathieu Roy |
| INJURED: Rostislav Klesla, Derek Dorsett |
| Steve Sullivan |
Jason Arnott |
Martin Erat |
| Jerred Smithson |
David Legwand |
Joel Ward |
| Patric Hornqvist |
Marcel Goc |
J.P. Dumont |
| Wade Belak |
Dave Scatchard |
Ryan Jones |
|
Shea Weber |
Ryan Suter |
| Dan Hamhuis |
Kevin Klein |
|
Alexander Sulzer |
Francis Bouillon |
|
Pekka Rinne |
|
Dan Ellis |