Game 37 Preview: Back to the desert
Doesn't get much worse for Columbus here. There's just about nowhere to go but up, with only Anaheim behind us in the standings. I think the gameplan from here on out should play with nothing to lose. Get out there, skate hard and hit harder. Scoring a lot helps too.
Not a lot has changed since, you know, two games ago when, you know, we played Phoenix. They're coming off a 4-2 loss against last place Anaheim so they're probably going to be pissed. Wouldn't you be pissed if your team lost to the Du...shit.
The Dispatch is reporting that Voracek with fly on the left side of Vermette and Nasher. Personally, I've been dreaming of this change for awhile. If Jake can get going early and put pressure on the Phoenix D, maybe the rest of the team will catch a case of the scoresies and we can roll.
Stralman will sit this one out - he's still bothered by a stomach virus. Marc Methot will jump in his place. Also look for Blunden to make his way back into the lineup for Andrew Murray and center the 4th line.
Fearless Prediction: The benching of Steve Mason and the promotion of Voracek inspire the team and win with a late goal.
Game Time: 9:00pm ET
Opponent's Blog: Five For Howling
Game Page: Coyotes vs. Blue Jackets Coverage
TSN Preview:
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump...
From the Columbus Dispatch:
How will the Blue Jackets respond after holding a players-only meeting following an ugly 5-2 loss to Colorado on Saturday? Speed and forechecking are among the Coyotes' strengths, and that makes them a difficult matchup for the Blue Jackets' slow, plodding defensemen. The Blue Jackets are 1-1-1 against the Coyotes this season, including a 2-1 shootout loss Thursday, and 2-6-1 against them since Jan. 17, 2008.
Jackets Links:
Here are tonight's lineups:
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Jakub Voracek | Antoine Vermette | Rick Nash |
| Jason Chimera | Derick Brassard | R.J. Umberger |
| Kristian Huselius | Samuel Pahlsson | Fredrik Modin |
| Raffi Torres | Mike Blunden | Jared Boll |
| Jan Hejda | Mike Commodore |
| Fedor Tyutin | Marc Methot |
| Kris Russell | Mathieu Roy |
| Mathieu Garon |
| Steve Mason |
| INJURED: Rostislav Klesla, Anton Stralman, Derek Dorsett |
| EXTRA: Andrew Murray |
Phoenix Coyotes:
| Shane Doan | Matthew Lombardi | Scottie Upshall |
| Petr Prucha | Martin Hanzal | Radim Vrbata |
| Taylor Pyatt | Robert Lang | Lauri Korpikoski |
| Vernon Fiddler | Daniel Winnik | Paul Bissonnette |
| Jim Vandermeer | Zbynek Michalek |
| Ed Jovanovski | Keith Yandle |
| Anders Eriksson | Adrian Aucoin |
| Ilya Bryzgalov |
| Jason LaBarbera |
| EXTRA: Sami Lepisto |