Preview: Getting Back on Track

Calgary Flames @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio - Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Game Faceoff

Columbus has been one of the hottest teams in the NHL to open the season. Yes, friends, that s a sentence you just read.

In the spirit of the holiday, I’m going to list some things I’m thankful for:

• I’m thankful for the heaping plate of crow I’m eating regarding Zach Werenski. I had no idea he would be this good this early. He’s a monster, tied for second in the NHL for scoring by defensemen, just behind Brent Burns and tied with Shea Weber.
• I am thankful for our two current logos, because they’re stunning and beautiful and mean something to the heritage of the state. The same cannot be said of the new Vegas Golden Knights.
• I am thankful for Alexander Wennberg and his stellar vision on the ice setting up goal after goal this season. He is rightfully among the league leaders in assists this year.
• I am grateful for the freer play of the captain this season. Nick Foligno has looked like a different man this year, leading the team in points and tied for the team lead in goals. He looks to have grown into his captain’s role and embraced being the team leader.
• I am grateful for the members of the Cannon. Y’all are wonderful people and half the fun of writing for this site is engaging with all of you on a daily basis.
• I am grateful for having a defense this season. Werenski has allowed everyone to play their natural position on the blue line and this team has responded so well.
• I’m grateful for Torts - his brash style and his history prior to arriving rubbed me the wrong way. But he’s been on the straight and narrow since he arrived here, and he’s worked hard to change the culture of the club. Some of the gritty come-from-behind wins we’ve had this season? Those don’t happen under previous regimes. This team is faster and mentally tougher than any we’ve had here before, and that alone give me hope for this season and beyond./

No lineup changes expected for Columbus as of this publishing. No Johnny Hockey for Calgary due to injury.

Go Jackets. Get this done.

Probable Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Brandon Saad	Alexander Wennberg	Nick Foligno
Boone Jenner	Brandon Dubinsky	Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert	William Karlsson	Josh Anderson
Scott Hartnell	Lukas Sedlak	Sam Gagner

Zach Werenski	Seth Jones
Ryan Murray	Jack Johnson
Markus Nutivaara	David Savard

Sergei Bobrovsky

Curtis McElhinney

Calgary Flames

Sam Bennett	Sean Monahan	Troy Brouwer
Matthew Tkachuk	Mikael Backlund	Michael Frolik
Hunter Shinkaruk	Matt Stajan	Alex Chiasson
Micheal Ferland	Freddie Hamilton	Garnet Hathaway

Mark Giordano	Dougie Hamilton
T.J. Brodie	Dennis Wideman
Brett Kulak	Deryk Engelland

Chad Johnson

Brian Elliott