Match-up - Winnipeg Jets (10-9-3) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (6-12-2) Road/Home records - 6-4-2 -------------- 3-6-1 TV - TSN3, FS-O Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - 0-0 Last 10 - Jets: 4-4-2 ------------ Blue Jackets: 2-6-2 Projected starting goalies - Michael Hutchinson vs Sergei Bobrovsky
Projected lines for the Jets via DailyFaceoff.com:
Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler Evander Kane - Mathieu Perrault - Dustin Byfuglien Adam Lowry - Mark Scheifele - Michael Frolik Chris Thorburn - Jim Slater - Matt Halischuk
Grant Clitsome - Zach Bogosian Mark Stuart - Jacob Trouba Adam Pardy - Paul Postma
Injured: Tobias Enstrom.
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 Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski Jordan Leopold - David Savard
Injured: Brandon Dubinsky, Nathan Horton, Mark Letestu, Ryan Murray, Fedor Tyutin, Cody Goloubef.
Game notes:
- This will be a very fun matchup to watch, as to this point in the year the teams have been polar opposites. Columbus scores at a decent rate but can't keep the puck out, while Winnipeg can't score but they've been very stingy defensively. As for special teams, the Jackets have a good power play and the Jets can't capitalize on the man advantage, but own a very good penalty kill.
- Ryan Johansen has seven points in his last six games, but only has points in two of those contests. The points from the beginning of the year are still there, but the consistency is not. If the Jackets are going to get back on track they need the points to come consistently, rather than big chunk games here and there.
- In hopes of balancing the offense in the lineup Boone Jenner has found himself off of the top line and centering the 3rd line. Both Calvert and Skille have been good in stretches this season and Jenner has six points and 27 shots in nine games, so the hope seems to be he'll be able to ignite them.
- Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the line changes is Brian Gibbons, who has jumped into the top-6 after playing the last couple games on the 4th line. Gibbons won't be out of place up there as he can absolutely fly and possesses plenty of skill.
- Kevin Connauton hasn't looked out of place on the blue line since being claimed off waivers from Dallas, but Tim Erixon has played well this season and is surely chomping at the bit to get back in the lineup. Connauton will need another good showing, because if he has an off game he could find himself out of the lineup.
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