Game 78 Preview: Jackets / Wings Game One
Another spring series against the Wings! This time it isn't in the Stanley Cup playoffs though- it's a schedule quirk whereby the Jackets play the Wings in three of their last five games. The Wings have proven that they aren't out of gas just yet, and are playing fantastic hockey right now. The way Columbus plays against the Wings in these three games will go a long way in the development of the young players. They showed major character in beating the Blackhawks back-to-back, and now they look to do the same against Detroit.
Same lineup as last game, hopefully Kana can get more than five minutes of ice this game though. He looked engaged and focused in the limited action he had, and brought more to the table than Maksim Mayorov did in his brief stint in Columbus. I also love watching Frischmon skate- he's so fluid. It's not very often I get excited about the fourth line, but I can't wait to see them get on the ice.
Fearless Prediction: Jake Voracek scores his 50th point of the season (Take 2).
Game Time: 7:30ET
Opponent's Blog: Winging It In Motown
Game Page: Blue Jackets vs Red Wings coverage
TSN Preview: Blue Jackets vs Red Wings preview
TV: FSN
Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump...
From the Columbus Dispatch:
The Blue Jackets were blown out 9-1 by Detroit on Nov.11, but the past two matchups - a 2-1 loss in Detroit on Dec.26 and a 1-0 overtime home win on Dec.28 - were much more competitive. Watch out, Steve Mason: The Red Wings have put 144 shots on goal in the past three games.
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 |
| Andrew Murray | Samuel Pahlsson | Derek Dorsett |
| Tomas Kana | Trevor Frischmon | Michael Blunden |
| Fedor Tyutin | Marc Methot |
| Mike Commodore | Kris Russell |
| Grant Clitsome | Anton Stralman |
| Steve Mason |
| Mathieu Garon |
| EXTRA: Nathan Paetsch |
| INJURED/SICK: Derek MacKenzie, Chris Clark, Jared Boll, Jan Hejda, Rostislav Klesla |
| Johan Franzen | Pavel Datsyuk | Tomas Holmstrom |
| Valtteri Filppula | Henrik Zetterberg | Todd Bertuzzi |
| Kris Draper | Drew Miller | Jason Williams |
| Derek Meech | Darren Helm | Patrick Eaves |
| Nicklas Lidstrom | Brian Rafalski |
| Niklas Kronwall | Brad Stuart |
| Andreas Lilja | Jonathan Ericsson |
| Jimmy Howard |
| Chris Osgood |