Game Preview #67 - I Don't Even Know Anymore
This is going to be chock full of editorial comments.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings
March 12, 2015 - 7:30 pm EST
Joe Louis Arena - Detroit, Michigan
Radio - WWCD 102.5 FM - TV - Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent's Blog: Winging It In Motown
Under different circumstances, I would be more apt to discuss this game. Suffice it to say, the Wings are good, the Jackets are not. Brandon Dubinsky missed morning skate due to illness, and he will not be playing. But, that's not even the thing for me.
Ryan Murray was activated off of IR this morning, and I'm forced to ask the universe: WHY?
I know this isn't a legitimate reason (past fluke events having no real bearing on future returns), but with the Horseman of Pestilence continuing to ride in a tight circle around this team, what is the upside to bringing Murray back for any of the last 15 games? Murray's leg has been in some manner of disrepair for basically a calendar year, minus the two games he played this winter before suffering the high ankle sprain. What benefit, other than exposing him to more injury, is there for a team playing out the string? Wouldn't it make more sense to give him the rest of the spring and summer to get himself completely ready to play in meaningful games in the fall? He really is THAT important to this franchise.
I just don't get it. But, I'm willing to listen to arguments. Please have at it in the comments.
The lineup for tonight's game is kinda gross without Dubinsky, but at least Foligno returns.
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
(28-34-4, 60 Points; 7th division, 13th conference)
| Rene Bourque | Ryan Johansen | Cam Atkinson |
| Scott Hartnell | Alexander Wennberg | Marko Dano |
| Corey Tropp | Artem Anisimov | Nick Foligno |
| Luke Adam | Mark Letestu | Jared Boll |
| Jack Johnson | David Savard |
| Fedor Tyutin | Dalton Prout |
| Kevin Connauton | Cody Goloubef |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Curtis McElhinney |
Detroit Red Wings
(37-17-11, 85 Points; 3rd Division, 6th Conference)
| Tomas Tatar | Pavel Datsyuk | Luke Glendening |
| Erik Cole | Henrik Zetterberg | Justin Abdelkader |
| Gustav Nyquist | Riley Sheahan | Teemu Pulkkinen |
| Drew Miller | Joakim Andersson | Tomas Jurco |
| Niklas Kronwall | Jonathan Ericsson |
| Kyle Quincey | Danny DeKeyser |
| Brendan Smith | Marek Zidlicky |
| Jimmy Howard |
| Petr Mrazek |
Season Series
DET - 1-0-1
CBJ - 1-1-011/18/14 - Detroit 5 at Columbus 0
12/16/14 - Columbus 1 at Detroit 0 (SO)
03/12/15 - Columbus at Detroit
Head to Head Stats
| Detroit | Columbus | |
| 2.91 (7) | GPG | 2.50 (24) |
| 2.51 (11) | GAPG | 3.15 (26) |
| 25.4% (1) | PP% | 21.3% (6) |
| 81.9% (11) | PK% | 79.3% (25) |
| Tomas Tatar, 25 | G leader | Nick Foligno, 24 |
| Henrik Zetterberg, 41 | A leader | Ryan Johansen, 35 |
| Pavel Datsyuk / Henrik Zetterberg, 56 | Pts leader | Nick Foligno, 58 |
| Brendan Smith, 60 | PIM leader | Jared Boll, 97 |
| 19-6-7 | Home/Road | 16-15-2 |
| 6-3-1 | Last 10 | 2-7-1 |
| 3/9 vs. Edmonton, W 5-2 | Last Game | 3/10 @ Carolina, W 4-3 (SO) |