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Game Day Blog: Jackets To Take On Defending Champs |
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After a much-appreciated two days off the Jackets are back at it at Nationwide Arena tonight as Columbus plays host to the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. Columbus will have to make do with a patchwork defense corps tonight after placing both Adrian Aucoin (lower body injury) and Nikita Nikitin (upper body) on the injured list. John Moore is also set to miss the game tonight with what is being termed as a lower body injury.
The Jackets made a flurry of moves calling up rookie defensemen Nick Holden and Cody Goloubef from Springfield of the AHL. According to the projected lineup tweeted by Rob Mixer of Bluejackets.com, the Jackets will only have two defenders, Jack Johnson and Fedor Tyutin, in the lineup tonight that also skated on opening night. What's your over/under on minutes played by those two tonight. I say the line is a combined 60 and I'll take the over.
There is some good news on the injury front with coach Todd Richards confirming that Matt Calvert is back in the lineup tonight after being activated off IR. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, who was held scoreless in his two appearances with the Blue Jackets, was returned to Springfield with Calvert back.
Columbus is catching a Kings team looking to rebound following a tough loss to in-state rival Anaheim Saturday in which LA battled back to tie the game against the Ducks only to allow three straight tallies en route to a 7 – 4 loss. To say they might be a little peeved after that game is probably an understatement.
The Kings own a record of 2 – 3 – 2; their six points are the second fewest in Western Conference (ahead of only Calgary) and tied for third fewest in the NHL. Their goal differential of -7 is good for the third worst in the West.
Leading Scorers:
Kyle Clifford – 5 points
Simon Gagne – 4 points
Dustin Brown – 4 points
Anze Kopitar – 4 points
In Goal:
Jonathan Quick – 2 – 2 – 2, 2.72 GA, 0.897 Save %
Jonathan Bernier – 0 – 1 – 0, 4.51 GAA, 0.810 Save %
Player to Watch:
Dustin Brown – The Kings captain sets the tone with his all-around play. He’s coming off a two-goal performance Saturday and now has potted all three of his season’s goals in the last two games and all four points in his last four. He seems to be heating up at just the right time for the Kings.
As alluded to earlier, here is the lineup the Jackets are expected to go with per Rob Mixer:
Brassard – Dubinsky – Foligno
Umberger – Anisimov – Dorsett
Calvert – Johansen – Prospal
Mackenzie – Letestu – Boll
Johnson – Erixon
Tyutin – Goloubef
Holden – Savard
Mason is expected to be between the pipes.
Blue Jackets trivia:
I thought I’d try out a little feature quizzing you, the readers, on some Blue Jackets trivia. No prizes will be awarded but let’s see how much you know about your team.
Who did the Blue Jackets select with their first selection of the 2000 Expansion Draft?
Please leave your answers in the comments section.
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter: hbglen_miller
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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