They're getting better! The most recent game against the Blackhawks looked more like Jackets hockey than any other game this season, had they played the way they did during the losing streak, the score would have been ugly-very ugly in favor of the 'Hawks.
For the first time in a few years Toronto comes to town. The Leafs are still in the midst of a "re-tooling" (because if I would have said "rebullding" Ole Ironsides Burke would find a way to get me booted off of the internet) and are without either of their top goaltenders. Vesa Toskala is out with an injury, and Gustavsson will be going under the knife for another heart operation. Speaking of Gustavsson, when will the meda give him a new nickname? The Monster? Come on. Worst nickname for a player in all of sport, especially for a rookie. Joey MacDonald, a fellow Bluenoser, will get the start tonight. Mase is in for the Jackets.
The CBJ will be icing the same lineup as the past few games, although Raffi may miss it because his wife is in the hospital prepping for the delivery of the couple's first child. The Leafs have a tough defensive unit, so it will be interesting how the Jackets forwards can cope with that. I also wonder if Kris Russell can continue his red-hot stretch of play tonight. Here's hoping. Look for a good physical battle tonight folks.
Fearless Prediction: CBJ score at least four goals.
Game Time: 7:00pm ET
Opponent's Blog: Pension Plan Puppets
Game Page: Maple Leafs vs Blue Jackets Coverage
TSN Preview: Maple Leafs vs Blue Jackets Preview
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump...
From the Columbus Dispatch:
Toronto has played in Columbus only three times, most recently Nov. 20, 2006, a 4-2 Leafs win. The Blue Jackets would be wise to ignore the standings. After a horrible start, the Maple Leafs are 4-1-2 in their past seven games, including a 3-0 rout of Montreal on Tuesday. It could be a big special- teams game. Although the Blue Jackets excel on the power play, both teams struggle in killing penalties.
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
| Kristian Huselius |
Antoine Vermette |
Rick Nash |
|
R.J. Umberger |
Derick Brassard |
Jakub Voracek |
| Jason Chimera | Samuel Pahlsson |
Michael Blunden |
| Raffi Torres |
Derek MacKenzie |
Jared Boll |
| Fedor Tyutin | Anton Stralman |
| Mike Commodore |
Jan Hejda |
| Kris Russell |
Mathieu Roy |
| Steve Mason |
| Mathieu Garon |
| EXTRA: Alexandre Picard |
| INJURED: Fredrik Modin, Andrew Murray, Derek Dorsett, Rostislav Klesla, Marc Methot |
| Alexei Ponikarovsky |
Matt Stajan |
Phil Kessel |
| Niklas Hagman |
Mikhail Grabovski |
Christian Hanson |
| Wayne Primeau |
Nikolai Kulemin |
Lee Stempniak |
| Jason Blake |
Jamal Mayers |
Colton Orr |
|
Mike Komisarek |
Tomas Kaberle |
| Luke Schenn |
Ian White |
|
Francois Beauchemin |
Jeff Finger |
|
Joey MacDonald |
|
Jonas Gustavsson |