The Blue Jackets open up a five-game home stand tonight against the much-disliked Nashville Predators. Nashville comes in reeling a bit, and struggling to score. Their Power Play is still deadly, but they haven’t been generating much 5-on-5 offense.
Columbus, on the other hand, has been struggling to score consistently in all facets of the game, but has been playing much better defense of late. This should be a good matchup, and the Jackets are certainly catching the Preds at the right time.
Some lineup notes for Columbus: Kristian Huselius is, of course, back out tonight after hurting his groin in Montreal. Derick Brassard is back in for a change, and is going to get some time on the second line with Antoine Vermette and Ryan Johansen. Can The Three Centers generate some offense?
I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Rick Nash and Jeff Carter split up again at some point tonight. Let them each play their games, and stop trying to force them to make well-intentioned but chance-killing passes to each other just to show everybody that they’re willing to pass up shooting the puck at every chance. Go back to shooting it, boys.
Curtis Sanford gets his 11th straight start tonight (5-3-2).
Brassard on the second line… your prediction?
| Finally gets a chance to show what he can do; contributes. | 5 |
| Looks OK, but not great. | 11 |
| Struggles to knock the rust off at game speed. | 3 |
| Horrible; send him back to the press box! | 6 |