Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators

Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators
Friday, December 29, 2017 – 7:30 EST
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Game Faceoff

Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets play their final road game of the calendar year tonight as they head north of the border to take on the Ottawa Senators. The Blue Jackets will be looking to play a more complete game after a disappointing outing on Wednesday night that saw them blow a two goal lead in the final six minutes against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was ugly, filled with bad play from [insert a veteran player you want to criticize here], and something we best just forget.

Tonight, the team visits the struggling Senators. The Senators swung for the fences and brought in Matt Duchene earlier this season hoping that he would get them over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Finals. Instead, the team’s season has gone south quickly and they currently find themselves above only the Buffalo Sabres in the standings.

Ottawa is a team that Columbus should, on paper, beat. Ottawa is 2-6-2 in their last ten, has struggled to score goals or prevent goals, and has already been beaten by Columbus once already this season. A consistently good team wins this one, despite whatever injuries the team is facing. Ottawa has one good line that is producing right now, and a stud defenseman (hey, this sounds familiar…) and Columbus has better depth. The team should win tonight.

One note to keep an eye on: Derick Brassard missed practice on Thursday. He has been the subject of trade rumors with the Columbus Blue Jackets lately. Could Columbus return home with a new center on the plane? We will find out.

In roster news, the Columbus Blue Jackets sent Gabriel Carlsson down to Cleveland this morning. After practicing this week, this could mean the return of Zach Werenski to the lineup tonight (and not a moment too soon). We’ll know more when Torts talks to the media this afternoon.

Go Jackets.

Probable Lineups