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Game Preview #72 – On Fire

Columbus Blue Jackets at Calgary Flames

March 21, 2015 – 4:00 pm EDT
Pengrowth Saddledome – Calgary, Alberta
Radio – WBNS 97.1 FM – TV – Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent’s Blog: Matchsticks and Gasoline

So, the Blue Jackets are one win away from accomplishing a rare feat: sweeping the Western Canada trip, and doing it in four days’ time. Though they may be weary, they should get an extra boost from the return of Boone Jenner and Jeremy Morin from the IR list. The rub is that, as of this moment, figuring where they will go in the lineup is a total guesswork, assuming they even play at all (remember last week when Ryan Murray was activated on a game day, but didn’t play). I’ve made my guesses below, but they are just that: guesses. Especially with the news that Alexander Wennberg stayed behind in Vancouver with an infected hand. Because, of course.

The Jackets have been playing well of late (thanks in part to a softer schedule), but the win in Vancouver was vintage “last year’s Jackets”. Got down early in the second, but roared back and imposed their will on their opponent. It’s too bad we’ve seen that so few and far between this season, but I guess it bodes well for the team’s psyche heading into next season. Another spoiler win tonight against a team fighting for their playoff lives would be a nice feather in the cap, as well.

Just remember, the game starts early, and who knows what the lineup will look like! Enjoy!

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets
(32-35-4, 68 Points; 7th division, 13th conference)

Rene Bourque Ryan Johansen Cam Atkinson
Jeremy Morin Artem Anisimov Nick Foligno
Scott Hartnell Boone Jenner Marko Dano
Corey Tropp Mark Letestu Jared Boll

Jack Johnson David Savard
Fedor Tyutin Ryan Murray
Kevin Connauton Dalton Prout

Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney

Calgary Flames
(39-27-5, 83 Points; 3rd Division, 8th Conference)

Johnny Gaudreau Sean Monahan Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma Mikael Backlund David Jones
Mason Raymond Markus Granlund Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig Matt Stajan Michael Ferland

Kris Russell Dennis Wideman
TJ Brodie Deryk Engelland
David Schlemko Raphael Diaz

Karri Ramo
Jonas Hiller

Season Series

CAL – 0-1-0
CBJ – 1-0-0

10/17/14 – Calgary 2 at Columbus 3
03/21/15 – Columbus at Calgary

Head to Head Stats

Calgary Columbus
2.89 (7) GPG 2.58 (20)
2.59 (15) GAPG 3.11 (25)
19.3% (10) PP% 21.8% (5)
80.4% (23) PK% 79.0% (24)
Sean Monahan, 28 G leader Nick Foligno, 25
Mark Giordano / Jiri Hudler, 37 A leader Nick Foligno, 38
Jiri Hudler, 62 Pts leader Nick Foligno, 63
Brandon Bollig, 68 PIM leader Jared Boll, 102
20-13-3 Home/Road 19-15-2
6-3-1 Last 10 6-4-0
3/19 vs. Philadelphia, W 4-1 Last Game 3/19 @ Vancouver, W 6-2