Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Game Day: Jackets Getting Healthier in Advance of Matchup w/ Oil w/ Updates

March 5, 2013, 12:03 PM ET [21 Comments]
Glen Miller
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As the Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to host the Edmonton Oilers tonight at Nationwide Arena, the club got some good news on the injury front. Jack Johnson who has missed the last week plus with what was believed to be a shoulder ailment skated this morning with the club and is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Aaron Portzline tweeted this morning that when asked about the injury Johnson’s reply was, “Good enough,” implying he’s feeling good enough to go this evening.

Portzline later tweeted that Johnson had clarified his injury was not to the shoulder clouding the picture of exactly what was wrong with the Columbus defender.

Derick Brassard and Nikita Nikitin were also at the skate this morning but Nikitin has officially been ruled out. Apparently the neck injury doesn’t allow for full range of motion. Johnson will take his spot in the lineup though it’s unclear as of this writing how the defense pairs will look.
Brassard looks to be green light go for the Jackets with Nick Drazenovic the likely scratch. Brassard was with Derek Mackenzie and Jared Boll on the team’s fourth line at the morning skate and it appears he will be lined up with them at least to start tonight’s contest.

John Moore was officially placed on IR yesterday after the young defender hurt his shoulder in the morning skate Friday in Chicago.

Brandon Dubinsky is also making progress as he has been skating and the last four days have been “really good,” regarding his left knee. That again coming in a tweet by Portzline who also said that no date has officially been set for the Columbus forward’s return.

The Jackets are out for a little revenge against the Oilers and Devan Dubnyk as the Edmonton goalie stoned Columbus in their last meeting on February 10th at Nationwide Arena. Dubnyk stopped 39 of 40 shots against as Edmonton downed Columbus 3 – 1.

Columbus is not the only ones who have had to navigate through some injury troubles recently. The Oilers may be without Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall for tonight’s game against Columbus. Hall missed the Oilers last game against Minnesota while Eberle was held out of yesterday’s practice. Head coach Ralph Krueger did say that holding Eberle out was precautionary and was quoted as saying, “He’s expected to play tomorrow,” when queried on his availability for the contest tonight.

Also listed as day-to-day for the Oilers are D Mark Fistric (elbow) and D Corey Potter (head).
Edmonton made a trade with Toronto to acquire tough guy winger Mike Brown in exchange for a conditional 4th round draft choice in 2014. That pick becomes a third rounder if Edmonton qualifies for the playoffs this year.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal tweeted that Brown is a “middleweight puncher,” and is similar to Columbus’ own, Derek Dorsett. He went on to say however, that Dorsett has more skill.

For anyone curious as to the possible value of Dorsett should he hit the trade market, or even tough guy 4th liner Jared Boll, the price Edmonton paid for Brown is at least a starting point.

Edmonton is coming off an embarrassing loss to Minnesota in which the talented young club was held to just seven shots on goal through two periods and zero in the second period. It certainly isn’t unusual for such a young team to go through stretches of inconsistency but the Oilers still can’t be pleased with their performance Sunday. I would expect a much better effort tonight.

Steve Mason will be between the pipes for Columbus tonight as the club continues to alternate between Mason and Sergei Bobrovsky in net. Both goaltenders have been fairly solid this season but you know the old axiom pertaining to goaltenders: If you have two #1’s then you really have no #1’s. Sooner or later one of these guys is going to have to stake their claim to the undisputed #1 role.

I’ll be back to update the blog later if there any any changes or clarifications to either team’s lineup for tonight. Updates to appear at the bottom of the blog.

Edmonton Oilers by the Numbers:

The Oilers are 8 – 9 – 4 on the season. Their 20 points places them in a tie with Calgary and Colorado both for third place in the Northwest and 12th in the Western Conference.

Top Scorers:

Sam Gagner – 20 points
Taylor Hall – 18 points
Jordan Eberle – 16 points

In Goal:

Devan Dubnyk – 6 – 7 – 3, 2.84 GAA, 0.917 Save %

Player to watch:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The 2011 first overall draft selection seems to be in the midst of the dreaded sophomore slump. Last year the gifted pivot netted 52 points in 62 contests but has just seven in 20 this year. Edmonton is currently 25th in the NHL in scoring averaging just 2.33 goals per game. They could use a boost and Nugent-Hopkins is a guy that can give it to them.

Update: Confirmed both Eberle and Hall are IN tonight. (12:27 EST)
Join the Discussion: » 21 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Glen Miller
» Murray to Miss 4 - 6 Following Knee Surgery
» Columbus Deadline Rundown
» Blue Jackets Deadline Plans
» Tyutin to Miss Two to Three Weeks with Ankle Injury
» Blue Jackets Playing Contingent Out in Sochi