Game Preview #4 - Reignite
The Blue Jackets look to get back into the win column as they welcome the Flames to town.
Calgary Flames at Columbus Blue Jackets
October 17, 2014 - 7:00 pm EDT
Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio
Radio - WBNS 97.1 - TV - Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent's Blog: Matchsticks and Gasoline
Well, the Jackets have had a couple of days to stew about Tuesday's loss and the slow start that defined it. Meanwhile, the Flames are defying expectations (well, mine, anyway) in getting off to a hot start with a three game winning streak. They're not exactly setting the world on fire [rim shot], but they're doing what they have to do to win.
Jonas Hiller's incredible 49-save effort the other night highlights their strength thus far: they have allowed the most shots in the league (183), are second-worst in the league in shots-allowed per game (36.6). But, their goaltenders are saving 93.4% of the shots they've faced, having allowed just 12 (non empty-net) goals on a total of 182 shots.
Hiller isn't playing tonight, but Karri Ramo hasn't exactly been a slouch, either.
For the Jackets, not many changes, other than Marko Dano not being in after missing the last two days of practice with an undisclosed injury.
It's going to come down to Columbus coming out and playing hard early, establishing their speed and forecheck, and not letting Calgary get comfortable. The Flames aren't a high scoring team to this point, but their goaltending has kept them in games and allowed them to hang around and capitalize. The Jackets can't let them do this.
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
(2-1-0, 4 Points; 5th division, 8th conference)
| Nick Foligno | Ryan Johansen | Cam Atkinson |
| Scott Hartnell | Artem Anisimov | Alexander Wennberg |
| Matt Calvert | Mark Letestu | Jack Skille |
| Corey Tropp | Michael Chaput | Jared Boll |
| Jack Johnson | David Savard |
| Tim Erixon | James Wisniewski |
| Fedor Tyutin | Dalton Prout |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Curtis McElhinney |
Calgary Flames
(3-2-0, 6 Points; 4th Division, 4th Conference)
| Jiri Hudler | Sean Monahan | Josh Jooris |
| Curtis Glencross | Mikael Backlund | Paul Byron |
| Lance Bouma | Joe Colborne | Mason Raymond |
| Brandon Bollig | Matt Stajan | Brian McGrattan |
| Mark Giordano | TJ Brodie |
| Ladislav Smid | Dennis Wideman |
| Kris Russell | Raphael Diaz |
| Karri Ramo |
| Jonas Hiller |
Season Series
10/17/14 - Calgary at Columbus
03/21/15 - Columbus at Calgary
Head to Head Stats
| Calgary | Columbus | |
| 2.40 (22) | GPG | 3.33 (11) |
| 2.60 (13) | GAPG | 2.33 (11) |
| 18.8% (14) | PP% | 16.7% (18) |
| 70.0% (26) | PK% | 100.0% (3) |
| Mason Raymond, 3 | G leader | Cam Atkinson, 3 |
| Joe Colborne, 5 | A leader | three tied, 3 |
| three tied, 5 | Pts leader | Ryan Johansen, 5 |
| Deryk Engelland, 13 | PIM leader | Nick Foligno / Jack Skille, 5 |
| 3-1-0 | Road/Home | 1-1-0 |
| 3-2-0 | Last 10 | 2-1-0 |
| 10/15 @ Chicago, W 2-1 (OT) | Last Game | 10/14 vs. Dallas, L 4-2 |