When the Blue Jackets take on the Stars tonight, they'll be looking to bounce back from a tough Saturday evening.
The Hurricanes came into town and blew the doors off of Nationwide Arena, leaving with a 5-1 win on the strength of three power-play goals.
It won't be the same Blue Jackets team we saw on Saturday, as head coach Brad Larsen has made some changes. Firstly, Alexandre Texier and Gregory Hofmann have switched spots in the lineup. Texier is now on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Eric Robinson, and Hofmann is slated to play with Jack Roslovic and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
"It just hasn't been coming offensively (for Texier)," said Larsen on Monday morning. "It's not for a lack of work. I think Hofmann's a guy I want to see what he looks like up with some different guys. He's got great pace to his game and a pedigree for scoring."
Texier scored on his first shift of the Blue Jackets' first game against the Arizona Coyotes, but he only has two shots on goal through five games.
"Hopefully on that line (of Kuraly and Robinson) with their legs and that tenacity, (Texier) kind of falls into that rhythm in there," said Larsen. "If he's more engaged, I think he's a much more effective player. He's done some great things...five-on-five, I'd like to see some more. Maybe with that line, he might be able to do something there."
On the blue line, Larsen's also made some changes. Gabriel Carlsson will draw in for his season debut, as the Blue Jackets' first-round pick in 2015 will look to cement a roster spot with a strong performance tonight. Dean Kukan is also back in the lineup, and he'll replace Adam Boqvist. Per Jeff Svoboda, Boqvist left today's morning skate and is dealing with some lingering injuries. Without Boqvist, the Blue Jackets are left with just one right-handed defenseman in their lineup: Andrew Peeke, who will skate with Carlsson tonight.
"I'll keep the reason (that Carlsson is drawing in) between me and him," said Larsen. "But I want to see him play."
