Match-up - Columbus Blue Jackets (16-17-3) @ Colorado Avalanche (15-15-8) Road/Home records - 7-8-1 -------------- 9-8-3 TV - ALT, FS-O Puck drop - 8:00 p.m. ET Season series - 0-0 Last 10 - Blue Jackets: 7-2-1 ------------ Avs: 6-2-2 Projected starting goalies - Sergei Bobrovsky vs Semyon Varlamov
Projected lines for the Avalanche via DailyFaceoff.com:
Gabriel Landeskog - Matt Duchene - Danny Briere Alex Tanguay - Ryan O'Reilly - Jarome Iginla Max Talbot - John Mitchell - Nathan MacKinnon Cody McLeod - Marc-Andre Cliche - Borna Rendulic
Jan Hejda - Erik Johnson Nate Guenin - Tyson Barrie Brad Stuart - Nick Holden
Injured: Jamie McGinn, Ryan Wilson, Jesse Winchester.
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Scott Hartnell - Ryan Johansen - Jeremy Morin Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Nick Foligno Corey Tropp - Alex Wennberg - Jack Skille Sean Collins - Michael Chaput - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard Kevin Connauton - James Wisniewski Fedor Tyutin - Dalton Prout
Injured: Artem Anisimov, Boone Jenner, Brian Gibbons, Cam Atkinson, Nathan Horton, Mark Letestu, Ryan Murray.
What to watch:
1) With a goal last night Ryan Johansen extended his current point-streak to six games. When he gets going he tends to ride these streaks for a while, and the Blue Jackets need that to be the case once again. The Jackets have a few games in hand on Toronto, but they're 10 points back for a Wild Card spot. They need the wins to keep coming, and Johansen will have to produce if that's going to happen.
2) At times this season the Avs have been undisciplined. Their defense isn't the best, either, so if Columbus can keep the puck down low and use their big bodies on the cycle they should be able to draw some calls, giving their elite power play more opportunities to work.
3) Both teams tend to allow a lot of shots and quality scoring chances, so this one will likely come down to goaltending. Bobrovsky and Varlamov will have to be good for their respective teams to have a chance.
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