Game #27 Preview: Calgary Flames at Columbus Blue Jackets

Calgary Flames at Columbus Blue Jackets
Tuesday, November 4, 2018 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Matchsticks and Gasoline

Calgary Flames, 16-9-2, 34 points, 1st Pacific, 4th West
@
Columbus Blue Jackets, 15-9-2, 32 points, 2nd Metro, 5th East

After a loss in New York to the Islanders that saw the Columbus Blue Jackets blow a two goal lead, surrendering three unanswered goals, the Jackets will look to get back in the win column tonight as they take on the Calgary Flames. Calgary comes to Columbus following a  win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night. For the Blue Jackets, focus will be on cleaning up defensive issues as well as not taking bad penalties – both issues contributed to the loss on Saturday as Nick Foligno took an interference penalty that negated a power play four seconds in before Zach Werenski blew a defensive assignment that allowed the game winning goal. To add injury to insult, Ryan Murray was injured on a blocked shot midway through the third period. However, the Blue Jackets received positive news on this front yesterday:

Ryan Murray on the ice to start practice. #CBJ. Left game Saturday with bruised foot.

— Tom Reed (@treed1919) December 3, 2018

After practicing with no mobility restrictions, Murray is expected to be in th lineup tonight. Can the Blue Jackets regain their winning form? We will find out.

Player to Watch

Johnny Gaudreau

Johnny Gaudreau again leads the Calgary Flames in points this season, posting 31 already this season. The diminutive left winger drives the offense for the Flames (hey, this sounds familiar) and is averaging better than a point per game while posting more than 20 minutes of ice time per night and a CF% of better than 55%.   Gaudreau, in the middle of a six year, $40 million dollar contract, is blossoming into a star for the Flames and will undoubtedly be named to the All Star team this season. Containing Gaudreau’s line will be key to Columbus coming out of this game with a win.

Jackets Notes

Cam Atkinson scored his 300th point with an assist on Dubois’s goal, good enough for third all-time in franchise history behind Rick Nash (547) and David Vyborny (317). He also extended his point-streak to 10 straight games … Columbus has won three straight games at home and has collected points in five straight (4-0-1) … Pierre-Luc Dubois registered 8-8-16 in November, good for the best mark on the team … Columbus has an all time 32-19-7 record against Calgary.

The Other Bench

This game marks the second of two for the Flames on their Fathers Trip for the season … Since being traded to the Flames this summer, defenseman Noah Hanifin has registered 2-10-12 in 27 games played while posting a 54.9% CF% … TJ Brodie leads all NHL defensemen in plus/minus … Andrew Mangiapane, who had 7-7-14 in 13 games in the AHL, made his season debut for the Flames on Saturday night … After a conditioning stint in the AHL, former Blue Jacket Dalton Prout will play for the Calgary Flames tonight … Austin Czarnik will also draw into the lineup for the Flames.

Season Series

Stats

Projected Lineups