Phoenix Coyotes (20-13-9, 49pts) vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (20-19-3, 43pts)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
7:00 PM EST
TV: FSN-OH HD / Radio: WBNS 97.1 FM
(Dispatch Preview / SportsDirect Preview)
WFNY Tickets
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The Jackets get another shot at Phoenix tonight after playing them out in the desert last Tuesday. These teams aren’t that far apart: they’re both 20 win teams with 22 losses. It’s just that the ‘Yotes have gotten to OT six more times than the Jackets have in the loss column. The Jackets are staggering home after a rough 0-4 road trip through three time zones. They finally looked like a team with a pulse in the third period in LA on Saturday, but by then it was too late. If they want to get anything going before the All Star Break (seven more games), it needs to start tonight, as a home-and-home with the Red Wings is looming this weekend.
Projected Lineups
Phoenix Coyotes:
| SC1: | Scottie Upshall | Eric Belanger | Shane Doan |
| SC2: | Ray Whitney | Martin Hanzal | Radim Vrbata |
| CK1: | Paul Bissonnette | Kyle Turris | Lauri Korpikoski |
| CK2: | Taylor Pyatt | Vernon Fiddler | Lee Stempniak |
| D1: | Keith Yandle | Derek Morris | |
| D2: | Adrian Aucoin | Ed Jovanovski | |
| D3: | Michal Rozsival | Sami Lepisto | |
| G: | Ilya Bryzgalov |
Columbus Blue Jackets:
| SC1: | Rick Nash | Derick Brassard | Jakub Voracek |
| SC2: | Kristian Huselius | Antoine Vermette | RJ Umberger |
| CK1: | Derek Dorsett | Sammy Pahlsson | Chris Clark |
| CK2: | Matt Calvert | Andrew Murray | Jared Boll |
| D1: | Jan Hejda | Marc Methot | |
| D2: | Kris Russell | Rostislav Klesla | |
| D3: | Fedor Tyutin | Anton Stralman | |
| G: | Mathieu Garon |
Team Rankings
Scoring:
PHX – 2.74 gpg (15th NHL)
CBJ – 2.48 gpg (t26th NHL)
Defense:
PHX – 2.79 gapg (16th NHL)
CBJ – 3.07 gapg (25th NHL)
Power Play:
PHX – 15.8% (23rd NHL)
CBJ – 12.2% (29th NHL)
Penalty Kill:
PHX – 78.1% (25th NHL)
CBJ – 78.6% (24th NHL)
Season Matchups
This is the second of four matchups this season:
01/04/11 – Columbus 2 @ Phoenix 4 – box – Highlights
01/11/11 – Phoenix @ Columbus – 7:00 PM EST
02/25/11 – Phoenix @ Columbus – 7:00 PM EST
03/24/11 – Columbus @ Phoenix – 10:00 PM EDT
Game Notes
The Coyotes are coming off of a hard-fought win last night in St. Louis. One would hope the energy level would be on the Jackets’ side. However, the last time they found themselves in this position—waiting at home for another team to come in off a game the night before—it was Vancouver on 12/23 and the Canucks came in and smoked the Jackets.
There’s not much to say. Work hard. Forecheck. Bury your chances. Try not to give up three PP goals, which has been the norm more than the exception over the last month. Try not to let the roster speculation hanging over the franchise drag you down.
If the Jackets play hard like they did in the third period in LA, they’ve got a shot. If they pack it in at the first sign of trouble, they’ll get run. Again.
From The Outside Looking In
Five For Howling
The Good, The Bad, The Coyotes
Howlin’ Hockey
Next Game For The Jackets
Friday, January 14, 2011
7:00 PM EST
Detroit Red Wings @ Columbus Blue Jackets