Game 38 Preview: Back to Work

Columbus Blue Jackets at New Jersey Devils

December 10, 2013 – 7:00 pm EST
Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
Radio – WBNS 97.1 – TV – Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent’s Blog: In Lou We Trust
Blue Jackets vs Devils coverage
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The Christmas break is over, and the NHL is back in action. The holiday season is still upon us, however, and here’s hoping that everybody is having a safe and happy time with friends and family.

The Jackets are back to work tonight in New Jersey, for the first time this season. From a standings perspective this game is huge, as the Jackets can leapfrog the Devils with a victory, drawing even with the idle Flyers for the third and final divisional playoff spot. The Rangers, also tied with the Flyers at 38 points, are facing the Capitals tonight. A win would also bring the Jackets back to .500.

In their final game prior to the break, the Jackets earned a gutsy win over the ‘Canes, while the Devils were blasted by the Blackhawks.

The goaltending matchup features Curtis McElhinney against Martin Brodeur. Other notable roster notes include the return of Ryane Clowe to the Devils lineup, Matt Calvert, Nathan Horton, Marian Gaborik, Jared Boll and Dalton Prout out with injuries for Columbus, while Tim Erixon is a healthy scratch.

The Jackets will need to set the pace early, and avoid letting the Devils run things ther way on home ice. Scoring the opening goal is critical.

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets
(16-17-4, 36 Points; 6th division, 12th conference)

New Jersey Devils
(15-16-7, 37 Points; 5th division, 10th conference)

Season Series

10/22/13 – New Jersey 1 at Columbus 4
12/10/13 – New Jersey 4 at Columbus 5
12/27/13 – Columbus at New Jersey
02/27/14 – Columbus at New Jersey

Head to Head Stats