Don’t look now- but the Jackets are on a mini winning streak. They have won three in a row, and are looking for their fourth straight victory tonight against the Blues. Matty Garon gets his fourth straight start, he’s been excellent the past three games, even being named the NHL’s third star of the week.
This game marks the return of Dorsett. Even though the team is winning, I think he can bring the spark the team needs to take it to the next level. Generally, the scorers are scoring and the checkers are checking. Juice looked to be on his latest scoring binge but has cooled, and Umby has been Umby, minus the goals. The one guy who isn’t scoring is Nasher. If he can start putting pucks in the net then an extended winning streak is certainly possible. It’s very important to get the first line going, you can’t change things up amongst the top two lines because the second line is firing on all cylinders right now. It’s about to the three guys on Line 1 to get it together. Let’s hope that tonight is the night they start to dominate. Meanwhile, the second line can continue it’s scoring pace.
Fearless Prediction : Dorsett reminds everybody how much he means to the team. He will be noticeable all over the ice.
Game Time: 8:00pm ET
Opponent’s Blog: St. Louis Game Time
Game Page: Blue Jackets vs Blues Coverage
TSN Preview: Blue Jackets vs Blues Preview
TV: FSN
Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump…
From the Columbus Dispatch:
Don’t be misled by the score in the first meeting. Columbus scored two empty-net goals in the third period to push the margin. A win would give the Blue Jackets three straight on the road, matching a season high. The Blues expect winger Paul Kariya to return tonight. He missed the past six games with a concussion.
Jackets Links:
Here are the lineups for tonight’s tilt:
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Kristian Huselius |
R.J. Umberger | Rick Nash |
| Raffi Torres | Antoine Vermette | Jakub Voracek |
| Derek Dorsett | Samuel Pahlsson |
Chris Clark |
| Alexandre Picard |
Derick Brassard | Jared Boll |
| Fedor Tyutin | Anton Stralman |
| Milan Jurcina |
Mathieu Roy |
| Jan Hejda |
Mike Commodore |
| Mathieu Garon |
| Steve Mason |
| EXTRA: Andrew Murray |
| INJURED: Kris Russell, Fredrik Modin, Marc Methot, Rostislav Klesla |
| Andy MacDonald |
David Backes | T.J. Oshie |
| Paul Kariya |
Patrik Berglund | David Perron |
| Alexander Steen |
Jay McClement | Brad Boyes |
| Brad Winchester |
Derek Armstrong |
B.J. Crombeen |
| Eric Brewer | Erik Johnson |
| Barret Jackman |
Roman Polak |
| Carlo Colaiacovo | Mike Weaver |
| Chris Mason |
| Ty Conklin |