Well, friends, it’s been a long summer, but it’s finally over tonight! The Flames come to town to take on our Blue Jackets, and we finally get to kick off a season full of new beginnings but hopefully continuation of last season’s finish.
For the Jackets, they catch Calgary on the second night of a back-to-back, and to be frank, the Flames don’t look good at all on paper. Emotions will be high for the Jackets, and they will need to harness that emotion and take it to the Flames early and often.
For Columbus, there is one injury of note: Fedor Tyutin is out tonight, and David Savard draws in. Look for Dalton Prout to move up with Jack Johnson on the top pairing, and for Savard to join Nikita Nikitin on the third pairing.
For Calgary, their “backup” goalie will be in: Joey MacDonald.
Ryan Murray and Boone Jenner make their NHL debuts tonight, and for those fans on both sides with some nostalgia, Kris Russell returns to Columbus for the Flames, and Blake Comeau goes against (some of) his former mates after having been traded to Columbus from Calgary last season.
No more speculation. Let’s drop the puck!