The Columbus Blue Jackets limped to the finish of their California trip, dropping games against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks to finish the trip 1-1-1. Tonight, they're back on home ice and looking to get back on track.
Their opponent tonight is the Dallas Stars, who are on a bit of a hot streak, grabbing seven of a possible eight points over their last four games, bumping their record up to 8-5-1 on the season. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn continue to carry the team, while John Klingberg is building upon a great 2017-18 campaign. And 2017 third-overall pick Miro Heiskanen looks to be a budding star.
UPDATE: Oliver Bjorkstrand and Scott Harrington will be out of the lineup tonight. Lukas Sedlak and Dean Kukan draw in against Dallas.
PROJECTED LINES
Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson
Sedlak – Wennberg – Duclair
Foligno – Jenner – Anderson
Hannikainen – Dubinsky – Nash
DEFENSEMEN
Werenski – Jones
Murray – Nutivaara
Kukan – Savard
GOALTENDER
Bobrovsky
STORYLINES
- The Blue Jackets special teams have to turn around at some point… right? The power play has been abysmal for the better part of two years, but may be at its lowest point yet, mired in an 0-for-21 slump, having given up three shorthanded goals in that span.
- Will the Blue Jackets defensemen be able to contain some of the lethal Stars forwards? Their roster certainly has more skill than the Kings and Ducks, but then again, Blue Jackets are just a few games removed from beating the very good San Jose Sharks to kick off their California swing.
