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Match-up - Vancouver Canucks (15-6-1) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (6-13-2)
Road/Home records - 8-3-0 -------------- 3-7-1
TV - SNP, FS-O
Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET
Season series - 0-0
Last 10 - Canucks: 7-2-1 ------------ Blue Jackets: 2-6-2
Projected starting goalies - Ryan Miller vs Sergei Bobrovsky
Projected lines for the Canucks via DailyFaceoff.com:
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Radim Vrbata
Chris Higgins - Nick Bonino - Alex Burrows
Shawn Matthias - Brad Richardson - Zack Kassian
Derek Dorsett - Bo Horvat - Jannik Hansen
Alex Edler - Chris Tanev
Luca Sbisa - Kevin Bieksa
Ryan Stanton - Yannick Weber
Injured: Tom Sestito, Dan Hamhuis.
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Scott Hartnell - Ryan Johansen - Nick Foligno
Brian Gibbons - Artem Anisimov - Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert - Boone Jenner - Jack Skille
Corey Tropp - Alex Wennberg - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - Dalton Prout
Tim Erixon - James Wisniewski
Jordan Leopold - David Savard
Injured: Brandon Dubinsky, Nathan Horton, Mark Letestu, Ryan Murray, Fedor Tyutin, Cody Goloubef.
Game notes:
- Columbus has been about as bad of a start as anyone could have possibly imagined this year, but because they play in a terrible division they're eight points out of a divisional playoff spot rather than the 13+ they'd be out in any other division. If they're going to make any sort of push they're going to need to win a lot of games, and that has to start immediately.
- In five games since Sergei Bobrovsky has returned to the lineup he's allowed 16 goals, and has allowed at least three in four straight starts. It's hard to pin that on him, though, as he's faced an average of 37 shots per game in that stretch. He's a very good goaltender, but the Jackets really need to tighten things up defensively and cut that number down if they're going to start winning games.
- Jack Johnson's offensive numbers (nine points in 18 games) aren't bad but I don't think he's been at his best this season, especially defensively. He's struggled in possession and the Jackets have scored just 28% of all goals when he's been on the ice. Todd Richards seems set on using him against top competition, so chances are he'll see a lot of the Sedans and Vrbata tonight. If that's the case he'll have to be a lot better in his own zone.
- Columbus will need to play a disciplined game against the Canucks, because if they don't they could be in a whole lot of trouble. Vancouver's power play hasn't been dynamite this year, but they're posting respectable numbers in that regard and I think everyone would agree spoon-feeding the Sedins power play opportunities isn't exactly a recipe for success.
- The Jackets have played from behind a lot this season, and have really struggled to start strongly and gain early leads. I think an early goal would be a big boost for their confidence and allow them to settle in, play their game and feed off the crowd.
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