The Columbus Blue Jackets face an interesting test against the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres were pegged to be one of the best young teams this year and haven't been able to find their footing.
High on talent and unable to close down games, the Sabres need a spark and playing the Blue Jackets may just provide that.
The Sabres have poor underlying numbers and with the Blue Jackets numbers sliding as of late, can the Blue Jackets take advantage of a weaker opponent or play down to their level?
VIDEO: John Tortorella
Blue Jackets Projected Lineup
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Artemi Panarin | 20 GP, 4-10-14 | 71 | Nick Foligno | 20 GP, 3-5-8 | 28 | Oliver Bjorkstrand | 20 GP, 5-7-12 |
| 38 | Boone Jenner | 13 GP, 2-5-7 | 17 | Brandon Dubinsky | 20 GP, 2-6-8 | 13 | Cam Atkinson | 16 GP, 4-2-6 |
| 64 | Tyler Motte | 9 GP, 2-1-3 | 18 | Pierre-Luc Dubois | 20 GP, 2-2-4 | 77 | Josh Anderson | 18 GP, 7-3-10 |
| 22 | Sonny Milano | 17 GP, 5-3-8 | 14 | Jordan Schroeder | 2 GP, 0-0-0 | 37 | Markus Hannikainen | 11 GP, 2-2-4 |
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Zach Werenski | 20 GP, 6-6-12 | 3 | Seth Jones | 20 GP, 3-9-12 |
| 7 | Jack Johnson | 20 GP, 1-3-4 | 58 | David Savard | 19 GP, 2-4-6 |
| 27 | Ryan Murray | 20 GP, 1-3-4 | 65 | Markus Nutivaara | 15 GP, 0-6-6 |
| # | Player | GS | W-L-OL | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | Sergei Bobrovsky | 16 | 11-4-1 | 2.16 | .933 | 2 |
| 70 | Joonas Korpisalo | 4 | 1-3-0 | 3.28 | .896 | 0 |
Three Storylines
- Who Starts In Net?: Sergei Bobrovsky is on a roll. He has also started four straight games. The team has been monitoring his usage closely. Against a weaker conference opponent, this looks like an opportunity to insert a backup. Joonas Korpisalo played in Cleveland on Saturday and put up a strong performance. Were they polishing him up for this game or were they trying to kick any and all rust off of him in case of emergency? Tough to say but the Blue Jackets are definitely set in net.
- Kicking The Offense Off: Artemi Panarin scored a goal against the New York Rangers and it wasn't just any old goal. It was a goal where when you look at the replay 50 or so times, you're still amazed at how in the heck he was able to make it past the goaltender. He is a dynamic talent but for the past couple of games, he has been carrying the Blue Jackets especially when they need a goal. They're playing a team that gives up shots and goals like no one else in the league. If the offense wants to break out in a big way, doing it against the Sabres would be a pretty easy bet.
- Finding Consistency: Switching up lines and trying to find the right mix is hard. Head coach John Tortorella knows this but after using lines against the Rangers, he is going with a very similar lineup against the Sabres. These aren't set in stone by any means but it could indicate a comfortability for the Blue Jackets. If linemates start getting chemistry, this team could get consistency as well. They've been dying to have it and this is one of the first chances to have it this season.
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