Game Preview #2(x) - Blue Jackets vs. Sabres

Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets

September 17, 2013 - 7:00pm EDT
Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio
Radio - WBNS 1460 AM - TV - None
Opponents Blog: Die By The Blade
SBNation Game Page
Tickets

The Jackets kick off their second night of exhibition hockey with a split squad effort at home versus Buffalo. For the game in Columbus, the Jackets will find themselves in a pretty good looking goaltender matchup for the first two periods: Sergei Bobrovsky makes his pre-season debut, and the Sabres are sending Ryan Miller to town.

Otherwise, the Sabres' lineup is pretty bare with the exception of the "required" good players that have to go on the road. Some names of note include Thomas Vanek, Christian Erhoff, Cody Hodgson, and Miller. Some prospect names to watch include 2012 first rounder Mikhail Grigorenko, Joel Armia, and an interesting family matchup between the Jackets' Nick Foligno and his younger brother Marcus, who will be playing for Buffalo tonight.

The Jackets will have some regulars, but are definitely going with a younger lineup at home tonight, with several guys making their pre-season debuts.

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets
(1-0-0 in pre-season)

Buffalo Sabres
(1-0-0 in pre-season)

Game Notes

In lieu of game notes, we'll just point out that the Jackets are going young up front, but have plenty of experience on the back end tonight. It will be interesting to see how Bob looks, and I'm excited to see Boone Jenner as well.