Matt Calvert returns for Columbus tonight in Vancouver, as the Jackets look to win their third game on this Canadian road trip.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks
November 22, 2013 - 10:00 pm EST
Rogers Arena - Vancouver, British Columbia
Radio - WBNS 97.1 - TV - Fox Sports Ohio
Opponent's Blog: Nucks Misconduct
SBN's Canucks vs Blue Jackets Coverage
When the Jackets were getting ready to face these Canucks the last time in Columbus, they were at a bit of a crossroads. They had lost four straight, and had been embarrassed the night before. Well, oddly enough, things have been quite the roller-coaster since then. However, it should be noted that, including a five-game losing streak, the Jackets are "NHL-.500" since (including that game): 6-6-3. Fifteen points in 15 games. The definition of mediocrity.
However, one more bright spot tonight, as Matt Calvert comes off IR and should get his first start since October 10th, the third game of the season. Obviously it would be folly to expect too much too soon, but we did see a nice uptick with Boone Jenner's return over the weekend. At least for one game...
At any rate, the Canucks are just 6-5-3--or, 15 points in 14 games--over that same time span. In other words, they haven't exactly been tearing it up themselves. In fact, after reaching a high water mark of 9-4-1, they've gone just 2-4-3 in their last nine games, and have not won in five straight (0-3-2). They lost to Florida in a shootout on Tuesday. Tuesday was a rough night in Western Canada, let's just say.
But, yeah, Vancouver is struggling. They're simply not scoring of late, with four straight games of only one goal followed by a SO loss with only two goals scored. The Jackets at least made some modest amends for Tuesday night's debacle in Calgary on Wednesday. Can the injection of a healthy Matt Calvert make a few more tonight?
BTW, it looks like Brandon Dubinsky is going to try to play, but no word at this exact moment as to whether he'll be able to or not.
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
(8-11-3, 19 Points; 7th division, 13th conference)
| Nick Foligno | Ryan Johansen | R.J. Umberger |
| Boone Jenner | Artem Anisimov | Cam Atkinson |
| Derek MacKenzie | Mark Letestu | Blake Comeau |
| Matt Calvert | Michael Chaput | Jared Boll |
| Fedor Tyutin | Jack Johnson |
| Ryan Murray | James Wisniewski |
| Tim Erixon | David Savard |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Curtis McElhinney |
Vancouver Canucks
(11-8-4, 26 Points; 5th division, 9th conference)
| Chris Higgins | Henrik Sedin | Jannik Hansen |
| Daniel Sedin | Mike Santorelli | Ryan Kesler |
| Zack Kassian | Brad Richardson | Alexandre Burrows |
| Tom Sestito | Zac Dalpe | Dale Weise |
| Alexander Edler | Jason Garrison |
| Dan Hamhuis | Christopher Tanev |
| Ryan Stanton | Kevin Bieksa |
| Roberto Luongo |
| Eddie Lack |
Season Series
10/20/13 - Vancouver 1 at Columbus 3
11/22/13 - Columbus at Vancouver
Head to Head Stats
Vancouver Columbus 2.48 (21) GPG 2.41 (23) 2.52 (13) GAPG 2.91 (21) 11.3% (29) PP% 18.7% (17) 88.2% (1) PK% 77.1% (26) Ryan Kesler, 9 G leader Ryan Johansen, 6 Henrik Sedin, 18 A leader James Wisniewski, 14 Henrik Sedin, 22 Pts leader James Wisniewski, 16 Tom Sestito, 43 PIM leader Brandon Dubinsky, 40 4-4-2 Road/Home 4-5-2 11/19 vs. Florida, L 3-2 (SO) Last Game 11/20 @ Calgary, W 2-1 (OT) 3-4-3 Last 10 3-4-3