Hmm… let’s see… the Kings are in town. Who was it that plays for them now? Oh yeah, right.
Welcome back, Jeff Carter. Try not to pout too much on your way through the arena tonight.
In all seriousness, serendipity has given the Blue Jackets‘ fans a chance to give Carter the send-off they probably would have liked to have given him two weeks ago. Jack Johnson, meanwhile, gets to show his old team his new digs; Johnson has started to mesh well with Columbus, with a goal and two assists (and a +4 rating) in his last two games. Carter has scored two goals and is +1 in five games with the Kings and old mate Mike Richards.
In other news, the Jackets will send Steve Mason into the blue paint looking for their fourth win in a row; Mason has won four of his last five starts, including a shut-out. Nikita Nikitin looks to be back in the lineup despite missing the third period on Tuesday with a sore ankle from blocking a slap-shot.
Also of note is Maksim Mayorov, who was recalled today from Springfield by the Jackets. Not sure if he’ll draw in on the fourth line in place of Aaron Johnson (and/or Ryan Johansen, sigh), but he’s with the club.
A win tonight will tie this Jackets team with the ’01-’02 squad for wins (22), which is the franchise-record low for a season. Just throwing it out there, boys.