Match-up - Calgary Flames (3-2-0) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2-1-0) Road/Home records - 3-1-0 -------------- 1-1-0 TV - Fox Sports-Ohio, Sportsnet-Flames Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET Season series - 0-0 Projected starting goalies - Karri Ramo vs Sergei Bobrovsky
Projected lines for the Flames:
Jiri Hudler - Sean Monahan - Devin Setoguchi Curtis Glencross - Mikael Backlund - Paul Byron Mason Raymond - Joe Colborne - Johnny Gaudreau Brandon Bollig - Matt Stajan - Brian McGrattan
Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie Kris Russell - Dennis Wideman Ladislav Smid - Raphael Diaz
Projected lines for the Blue Jackets:
Nick Foligno - Ryan Johansen - Cam Atkinson Scott Hartnell - Artem Anisimov - Alex Wennberg Matt Calvert - Mark Letestu - Jack Skille Corey Tropp - Michael Chaput - Jared Boll
Jack Johnson - David Savard Tim Erixon - James Wisniewski Fedor Tyutin - Dalton Prout
Game notes:
- Ryan Johansen was reportedly rusty at the end of camp when he showed up, but he hasn't shown any signs of that thus far. Through three games he has two goals and five points while driving possession. After playing less than 15 minutes in his first two games, Todd Richards increased the workload giving him around 19 against Dallas. As he continues to find his game (if he hasn't already) I expect him to see 19-20 minutes of ice consistently.
- Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie are an elite defensive pairing and quietly have become one of the best in hockey. Calgary's forward core isn't loaded with offensive threats so they rely fairly heavily on this pairing to create offense. So far they've done just that as they have combined for 10 points (five each) through five games.
- The Jackets will need to pay special attention to Calgary's 3rd line. Johnny Gaudreau doesn't have a point this year but he oozes talent, and Joe Colborne and Mason Raymond have combined for three goals and eight points. There's a lot of speed and skill on that line so the Jackets can't afford to be caught flatfooted. - Calgary has gotten excellent goaltending from Jonas Hiller and Karri Ramo (both goaltenders have a .934SV%) so regardless of who starts tonight Columbus needs to a) put a lot of pucks on net and; b) make sure there are bodies in front to screen/pounce on rebounds.
- Columbus started slow at home against the Stars and were forced to play from behind all game. That's not exactly a recipe for success, especially when facing good goaltending, so they'll need a quick start tonight.
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