NHL
The Blue Jackets fly down to Sunrise to take on the Panthers.
Artemi Panarin and the Columbus Blue Jackets will travel down to Sunrise, Florida to take on Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers on Thursday. This will be Florida’s first home game and the first of three meet ups between the squads this season. This is the first of two games that brings Columbus down to Sunrise.
Tale of the Tape
Columbus (2-1-0)
The Blue Jackets are coming off of a beat down of the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Tuesday night. Artemi Panarin and Nick Folingo both had two goals on their nights. Goaltender Sergei Brobrovsky made 25 saves and had a .926 save percentage. Expect him to get the go ahead for this match up
Last year, the Blue Jackets owned the young Panthers squad as they were 3-0-0 last season against the Cats.
However, they will attempt it without forward Brandon Dubinsky as he was placed on the IR on Monday.
The biggest story-line facing this squad is the future of Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. By the end of the season, they will both be free agents. Look for them to try and showoff to try to land a big deal.
Florida (0-0-1)
The Panthers are just coming back from a heart breaking loss to the Lightning in a shootout. In addition, the Cats lost key pieces to the squad such as Derek Mackenzie and Roberto Luongo. In response to this, Florida has called up goaltender Michael Hutchinson and center Juho Lammikko from Springfield.
Additionally, goaltender James Reimer is expected to get the nod for this match up.
This game will be Florida’s home opener and their second game in a span of five days. Due to their 25th anniversary, the 1993-94 inaugural Florida Panthers team will have a special reunion at the BB&T Center. This may give the young core a huge boost for the game on Thursday.
Injuries
Columbus
As previously mentioned, forward Brandon Dubinsky will be on the IR for four to six weeks. This is due to a strained oblique muscle injury he obtained during Sunday’s practice.
Defenseman Seth Jones is out with a second grade MCL sprain and is expected to return later this month.
Florida
As previously mentioned, goaltender Roberto Luongo will be out. He will be out two to four weeks with a first grade MCL sprain.
As previously mentioned, forward Derek Mackenzie is out with an upper body injury. His timetable for return is unknown.
Forward Jaime McGinn is still recovering from back surgery.
Forward Michael Haley missed Wednesday’s practice due to sickness.
Defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich is still recovering from a jaw injury.
Projected lineups (according to Dailyfaceoff.com)
Columbus
L1: Artemi Panarin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Cam Atkinson
L2: Nick Foligno-Alexander Wennberg-Anthony Duclair
L3: Boone Jenner-Riley Nash-Josh Anderson
L4: Sonny Milano-Lukas Sedlak-Oliver Bjorkstrand
D1: Zach Werenski-David Savard
D2: Ryan Murray-Markus Nutivaara
D3: Dean Kukan-Adam Clendening
G1: Sergei Brobovsky
G2: Joonas Korpisalo
Scratches: Markus Hannikainen, Scott Harrington, Gabriel Carlsson
Florida
L1: Evgenni Dadonov-Aleksander Barkov-Nick Bjugstad
L2: Johnathan Huberdeau-Vincent Trocheck-Mike Hoffman
L3: Frank Vatrano-Jared McCann-Denis Malgin
L4: Maxin Mamin-Juho Lammikko-Colton Scevior
D1: Keith Yandle-Aaron Ekblad
D2: Micahel Matheson-Mark Pysyk
D3: Jacob MacDonald-Alexander Petrovic
G1: James Reimer
G2: Michael Hutchinson
Scratches: Mackenzie Weegar, Troy Brouwer
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Photo Credit
Photo Courtesy of Tyler Berry
