Jackets Game 1 (X) Preview: Jackets in Atlanta
The Jackets are on the road in Atlanta tonight, to take on the Thrashers in the opening game of their preseason schedule. As you'll see with the lineups posted below, the usual pattern of the home team dressing big-name players and the road team going with the fringe players getting looks holds true. The Jackets have a lot of muckers and grinders in their lineup, with most of the forwards penciled in for Springfield. One player I find intriguing thus far is Oliver Gabriel- he was an invite to development camp, then was asked to participate in Traverse City, and performed well enough to get the invite to main camp. He was a teammate of first round pick Ryan Johansen in Portland of the WHL last season. Gabriel is looking to earn an entry-level contract with Columbus. He's only 19 however so if he doesn't make the Jackets he has to be returned to junior.
Pre-season doesn't count for much standings-wise, but it will be interesting to see how some individuals perform tonight.
Jackets hockey is back!
Fearless Prediction: Matt Calvert scores!
Game Time: 7:00ET
Opponent's Blog: Bird Watcher's Anonymous
TV: None
Radio: WWCD-FM (101.1)
More after the jump...
From the Columbus Dispatch:
Jackets Links:
Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule
Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats
Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:
| Matt Calvert | Derek MacKenzie | Derek Dorsett |
| Tom Sestito | Kyle Wilson | Mike Blunden |
| Oliver Gabriel | Andrew Murray | Dan Fritsche |
| Dalton Smith | Ben Guite | Kyle Neuber |
| Brent Regner | Marc Methot |
| Jonathan Sigalet | Mike Commodore |
| Nick Holden | Nate Guenin |
| Mathieu Garon |
| David LeNeveu |
| EXTRA: Cody Goloubef, Mike Ratchuk |
| INJURED/SICK: Gustaf Wesslau, Steve Delisle, Mathieu Corbeil |
| Evander Kane | Alexander Burmistrov | Anthony Stewart |
| Nigel Dawes | Bryan Little | Fredrik Pettersson |
| Danick Pacquette | Riley Holzapfel | Akim Aliu |
| Ben Eager | Patrick Rissmiller | Spencer Machacek |
| Ron Hainsey | Jamie Sifers |
| Arturs Kulda | Freddy Meyer |
| Boris Valabik | Andrey Zubarev |
| Ondrej Pavelec |
| Drew MacIntyre |