The Jackets are taking on the Coyotes tonight, in Phoenix. This marks the third straight home opener in a foreign building for the boys in blue. The Jackets are coming off a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, a game where Mason didn’t look sharp and was pulled in favor of Mathieu Garon.
This is an important game for the CBJ. They were swept in four games last season by the ‘Yotes, and Phoenix has looked good already this season, shutting out the Cup Champion Penguins the other other night. The two teams have similar styles- young, hard working, with good goaltending. This could be a close game.
Ken Hitchcock has juggled the lines again, this time putting Derick Brassard back on the top line with Nash and Huselius, and reuniting the second line from the end of last season- RJ Umberger will join Anotine Vermette and Jake Voracek. Nikita Filatov was moved to the fourth line. Mathieu Garon will get his first start of the season.
Game Time: 9:00pm ET
Opponent’s Blog: Five For Howling
Game Page: Blue Jackets vs Coyotes Coverage
TSN Preview: Blue Jackets vs Coyotes preview
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump…
From the Columbus Dispatch:
The Blue Jackets will have vastly different forward lines tonight for the third time in four games The NHL almost picked up stakes from Glendale this past summer, but tonight’s game — the Coyotes’ season opener — is sold out Former Blue Jackets coach Dave King is an assistant with the Coyotes.
Jackets Links:
Here are the lineups for tonight’s tilt:
Columbus
Huselius – Brassard – Nash
Umberger- Vermette – Voracek
Chimera – Pahlsson – Torres
Filatov – Murray – Dorsett
Tyutin – Klesla
Hejda – Stralman
Russell – Methot
Garon
Mason
Injured: Mike Commodore, Fredrik Modin
Extra: Mathieu Roy, Jared Boll, Mike Blunden
Phoenix
Boedker- Lang – Mueller
Upshall – Lombardi – Doan
Prucha – Hanzal – Vrbata
Winnik – Korpikoski – Fiddler
Vandermeer – Yandle
Michalek – Aucoin
Lepisto – Jovonovski
Bryzgalov
LaBarbera