Game 61 Preview: Jackets Host the Sharks

Tonight marks Claude Noel’s third game behind the bench as head coach, and it will likely be his toughest test yet. The Sharks have a high-powered offense led by the “Canada Line” of Marleau, Thornton and Heatley. Mase and Nabokov are your likely starters in goal.

I was having an interesting discussion with Jason Plank of our San Jose SBNation cousin Fear the Fin yesterday. We were throwing around trade ideas, and here’s what we came up with:

To San Jose: Raffi Torres, Jan Hejda

To Columbus: Ryane Clowe, Kent Huskins, Andrew Desjardins

You can see the breakdown of that discussion on their site. What do you think Jacket fans?

Back to the game tonight though- the Jackets need to set the tone early. The Sharks are one of those teams that pounces on every little mistake a team makes. Knowing that, the Jackets need to play sound hockey, but at the same time they need to put pucks on net. I smell an entertaining game tonight

Fearless Prediction: The Jackets keep on rolling, and steal one from the Sharks!

Game Time: 7:00pm ET

Opponent’s Blog: Fear The Fin

Game Page: Sharks vs Blue Jackets coverage

TSN Preview: Sharks vs Blue Jackets preview

TV: FSN

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

More after the jump…

From the Columbus Dispatch:

The Blue Jackets have allowed only one goal in the past two games despite an injury-riddled blue line. San Jose will be a huge test. The Sharks won 3-2 in a shootout on Nov. 4 in Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets are 4-1-1 in the past six meetings with San Jose in Nationwide.

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

San Jose Sharks