Game Preview: Blue Jackets Face Flames As Western Swing Of Road Trip Kicks In

The Columbus Blue Jackets face the Calgary Flames at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night from the ScotiaBank Saddledome. The Flames come into the game with a league-worst eight points, having won just three of their first 14 games. They also average a league-low 2.14 goals per game.

Here are five things to know in advance of puck-drop:

• After a tough loss Sunday evening, the Blue Jackets were ready to move on. “It’s on to the next game,” said forward Miles Wood. “We have so many games here in the month of November, so we can’t dwell on it too much."
   
• In that game, the second half of a back-to-back, the Blue Jackets had a season-low 22 shots on goal — including just three in the first period and five in the final frame. Columbus will need to do a better job about getting their legs under them, which a pair of off days should help with.
   
• The Blue Jackets are at their best in five-on-five play, where they've outscored the opposition 30-20 there. That is the best ratio in the NHL. 
   
• Three is the magic number for Columbus: they're 7-0-0 when scoring three goals or more and 0-5-0 when scoring two or less. 
   
• Defenseman Denton Mateychuk didn't practice Tuesday and his status for this game is up in the air. If he can't go, look for Dysin Mayo to see his first action this season in a Blue Jackets sweater. Complete lineup projections are below.