Calgary Flames (14-17-3, 31pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (16-13-3, 35pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
7:00 PM EST
TV: none / Radio: WWCD 102.5 FM
(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets
Follow me from the press box @WFNYDP tonight!
The Jackets get another shot at Calgary tonight. There isn’t a ton to say, other than last time out in Calgary, the Jackets all but dominated big stretches of the game. Even still it was the two quick goals that got Steve Mason pulled less than five minutes into the game that linger as the difference. Mathieu Garon gets the start in net, and this is a game the Jackets simply HAVE to win if they have any hopes of climbing back into the discussion for the playoffs. No local TV tonight for this game due to the NHL/VS deal, so grab some tickets and head on down to the Nat!
Projected Lineups
Calgary Flames:
| SC1: | Alex Tanguay | Matt Stajan | Jarome Iginla |
| SC2: | Niklas Hagman | Olli Jokinen | Rene Bourque |
| CK1: | Curtis Glencross | Brendan Morrison | David Moss |
| CK2: | Tom Kostopoulos | Craig Conroy | Tim Jackman |
| D1: | Robyn Regehr | Jay Bouwmeester | |
| D2: | Mark Giordano | Cory Sarich | |
| D3: | Anton Babchuk | Adam Pardy | |
| G: | Henrik Karlsson |
Columbus Blue Jackets:
| SC1: | Kristian Huselius | Antoine Vermette | Rick Nash |
| SC2: | RJ Umberger | Derick Brassard | Jakub Voracek |
| CK1: | Ethan Moreau | Sammy Pahlsson | Derek Dorsett |
| CK2: | Tom Sestito | Andrew Murray | Jared Boll |
| D1: | Jan Hejda | Fedor Tyutin | |
| D2: | Rostislav Klesla | Marc Methot | |
| D3: | Kris Russell | Mike Commodore | |
| G: | Mathieu Garon |
Team Rankings
Scoring:
CAL – 2.59 gpg (20th NHL)
CBJ – 2.50 gpg (22nd NHL)
Defense:
CAL – 2.88 gapg (21st NHL)
CBJ – 2.78 gapg (16th NHL)
Power Play:
CAL – 15.6% (26th NHL)
CBJ – 12.2% (29th NHL)
Penalty Kill:
CAL – 79.3% (23rd NHL)
CBJ – 80.5% (19th NHL)
Season Matchups
This is the third of four matchups this season:
10/22/10 – Calgary 6 @ Columbus 2 – box – Highlights
12/13/10 – Columbus 2 @ Calgary 3 – OT – box – Highlights
12/21/10 – Calgary @ Columbus – 7:00 PM EST
03/04/11 – Columbus @ Calgary – 9:00 PM EST
Game Notes
I don’t have a ton to say here that hasn’t been said already, most recently in the 5-Hole column today. If Columbus can re-establish the forecheck they had for most of the game in Calgary last week, I like their chances. If they can limit the defensive breakdowns, and if Mathieu Garon can have the calming influence we’ve seen him have with this team, I like their chances. If the Special Teams can show up collectively tonight, I like their chances.
This might seem like a cop-out, but the Jackets did most of those things on Saturday night against a very good Dallas team, and deserved better than the 2-1 lost they received. A goal or two from the top-six would be nice tonight, but the Jackets showed in Calgary that when they bring their high-energy forecheck, they can keep the Flames back on their heels. This would be the recipe for success tonight, as well.
From The Outside Looking In
Red Mile
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Flame for Thought
Next Game For The Jackets
Thursday, December 23, 2010
7:00 PM EST
Vancouver Canucks @ Columbus Blue Jackets