Game 55 Preview: Jackets take on the Preds

Ah the Preds. A team the Jackets have had a hard time with, seemingly forever. They face them tonight at home, with Steve Mason going up against Pekka Rinne in a battle of sophomore goaltenders. The Preds are in the midst of a small losing streak (relatively speaking, anyway) and this would be a good opportunity to stick it to them.

The Dispatch reports that Jakub Voracek should return tonight, and should take his usual spot on the right side of the second line. The rest of the lines remain the same. I can't see any reason why this game would be different from any game against the Preds, it should be intense with a lot of physical play and timely scoring.

Fearless Prediction: Derek Dorsett fights Tootoo.

Game Time: 7:00pm ET

Opponent's Blog: On the Forecheck

Game Page: Predators vs Blue Jackets coverage

TSN Preview: Predators vs Blue Jackets preview

TV: FSN

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Nashville has won the past five meetings, although four went beyond regulation, three to shootouts. The Predators have lost three in a row for only the second time since Oct. 21.

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Kristian Huselius	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
R.J. Umberger	Derick Brassard	Jakub Voracek
Fredrik Modin	Samuel Pahlsson	Chris Clark
Raffi Torres	Derek Dorsett	Jared Boll

Fedor Tyutin	Anton Stralman
Milan Jurcina	Kris Russell
Jan Hejda	Mike Commodore

Steve Mason

Mathieu Garon

EXTRA: Andrew Murray, Mathieu Roy

INJURED: Marc Methot, Rostislav Klesla

Nashville Predators

Steve Sullivan	Jason Arnott	Patric Hornqvist
Jerred Smithson	David Legwand	Martin Erat
Ryan Jones	Cal O'Reilly	J.P. Dumont
Wade Belak	Nick Spaling	Jordin Tootoo

Ryan Suter	Shea Weber
Dan Hamhuis	Kevin Klein
Francis Bouillon	Cody Franson

Pekka Rinne

Dan Ellis