The Blue Jackets are finally back in action tonight against the Sabres in Buffalo. Buffalo has not yet won on the season (for them it feels a lot like our 2011 start, minus the crippling expectations), but they got close on Tuesday against Tampa Bay, losing in overtime despite having a third period lead.
The Jackets are coming off of another long layoff, having not played since Saturday, so the whole “rest vs. rust” thing factors in. On one hand, the team is finally getting healthy again, with Jared Boll drawing back into the lineup on the fourth line (Boone Jenner will sit), and Fedor Tyutin getting closer. That said, if they come into this game playing as flat as they did in the opener, well, bad things, man.
For the Sabres, their problem has been scoring. Despite scoring two on Tuesday, their total through four games is just four goals. Yowza. That should bode well for a Jackets’ defense that finally started to find themselves on Saturday on the Island. Ryan Miller gets the start in goal after missing two games with a sore groin. I actually find this a win for the Jackets, as who knows if he’s 100% and also remember how Jhonas Enroth owned our souls that one time back in 2011? (Yes, I’m employing what we in the writing business call “hyperbole”.) Vezina McVeznerson will be starting for the Jackets, natch.
Finally, tonight is the first Watching Party at Buffalo Wild Wings (#CBJBWW) in Grandview. If I may, this is my favorite BWs, in large part because Greg May was one of the founding fathers of Cannonfest, and technically this particualr BWs sponsors my rec-league hockey team. 🙂
Enjoy the game!