Match-up - Columbus Blue Jackets (0-0-0) @ Buffalo Sabres (0-0-0) Road/Home records - 0-0-0 -------------- 0-0-0 TV - Fox Sports-Ohio, MSG-B, Bell TV Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - 0-0 Projected starting goalies - Sergei Bobrovsky vs Jhonas Enroth
Projected lines for the Sabres:
Matt Moulson - Tyler Ennis - Drew Stafford Cody Hodgson - Sam Reinhart - Brian Gionta Nick Foligno - Zemgus Girgensons - Chris Stewart Nick Deslauriers - Cody McCormick - Torrey Mitchell
Josh Gorges - Tyler Myers Andre Benoit - Andrej Meszaros Mike Weber - Rasmus Ristolainen
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Nick Foligno - Ryan Johansen - Cam Atkinson Scott Hartnell - Artem Anisimov - Marko Dano Matt Calvert - Mark Letestu - Alex Wennberg Jack Skille - Michael Chaput - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard Tim Erixon - James Wisniewski Fedor Tyutin - Dalton Prout
Game notes:
- Ryan Johansen is the big story, obviously. He had been working out in Vancouver while waiting for his contract dispute to conclude, but skating in small groups isn't the same as practicing full speed with a team full of NHL players. He was reportedly pretty rusty in practice yesterday, so it'll be interesting to see if that carries over should he be in the lineup tonight.
- The Sabres are really young and/or undersized down the middle of the ice. I think that's something the Blue Jackets can take advantage of.
- Tim Erixon will be going toe-to-toe with Dalton Prout for ice time once Ryan Murray returns from injury, so he'll need to play well if wants to solidify his spot in the lineup. That starts tonight.
- Marko Dano and Alex Wennberg both showed well in the preseason and look to be ready for full-time duty in the NHL. The Blue Jackets have quite a few injuries in their top-9 right now so they'll have plenty of time to prove themselves.
- The Blue Jackets have a distinct advantage in goal with Bobrovsky between the pipes. With all the injuries Columbus has, he may face a little more rubber than he normally would so he'll need to be good.
Recent posts