Game Day Preview: Jets @ Blue Jackets

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When: Saturday, November 12, 2011

Time: 6:00 p.m. CST

Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

Records: Winnipeg (5-8-3), Columbus (2-12-1)

Television/Radio: CBC,FS-O (HD)/ TSN 1290 Radio

The Story: The Winnipeg Jets might smell a stinky cologne when they meet the last-place-in-the-NHL Columbus Blue Jackets on the road tonight because the Blue Jackets have lost three games in a row and are absolutely desperate for a win.

Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson completed two trades this past week, acquiring center Mark Letestu, 26, from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday in exchange for a fourth round draft pick and also moving defenseman Kris Russell,24, to the St.Louis Blues for defenseman Nikita Nikitin, 25. To say that the moves themselves were made out of desperation may or may not be the case, but the moves undoubtedly have to do with the fact that the team has been horrible so far this season.

Let’s look at some numbers. Going into Saturday’s match-up with the Jets, the Blue Jackets have given up 58 goals in 15 games (3.85/game- 30th in the NHL) and have scored 34 goals in 15 games (2.27/game- 25th in the NHL). On special teams, the Blue Jackets power play is ranked 29th in the NHL (11.4%) and their penalty kill is ranked 30th in the NHL (71.2%). You can slice it any way you like, but the Blue Jackets have been awful in every area of the game.

The Blue Jackets’ dismal start to the season is obviously not what Scott Howson was expecting when he acquired center Jeff Carter from the Philadelphia Flyers in the summer and signed UFA defenseman James Wisniewsi to a six year/$33 million contract but the two players have missed large portions of the season as Wisniewski was suspended for the first eight games of the season and Jeff Carter has missed the last 10 games with a foot injury.

Injuries have also plagued the Winnipeg Jets of late as well but positive news did come on Friday morning. Forward Eric Fehr, who is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, has been cleared for contact in practice, and although he is not expected to be back for awhile, the Jets can certainly use Fehr on the team’s first two scoring lines when he is cleared for game action.

Jets defensemen Tobias Enstrom (broken collarbone), Ron Hainsey (upper body injury) Randy Jones (foot) and Derek Meech (lower body injury) are still sidelined.

After tonight’s game against Columbus, the Jets will return to Winnipeg for a three-game homestand, beginning on Monday, November 14th against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and continuing with games against the Washington Capitals (Thursday, Nov.17) and Philadelphia Flyers (Saturday, November 19th).

Lineups (courtesy of Brian Munz, TSN Radio 1290):

Defenseman Paul Postma replaces Brett Festerling on the blue line.  Festerling was injured during practise yesterday and did not make the trip.

Jets expected line up:

Kane-Antropov-Burmistrov
Ladd-Little-Wheeler
Glass-Slater-Wellwood
McArdle-Stapleton-Thorburn

Bogosian-Stuart
Byfuglien-Oduya
Flood-Postma

Scott Arniel’s Blue Jackets look at end a 3 game losing streak in which they have been outscored 19-6.  The offense is getting some help as forward Jeff Carter returns to the line up after missing the last 10 games due to injury.

Steve Mason starts his 5th straight game in goal.

Blue Jackets expected line up:

Umberger-Carter-Nash
Vermette-Pahlsson-Dorsett
Calvert-McKenzie-Boll
Prospal-Johansen-Letestu

Wisniewski-Clitsome
Methot-Moore
Tyutin-Nikitin

NOTES… Jets goaltender Chris Mason has been activated off the injured list….. Peter Mannino has been sent down to the St. John IceCaps of the AHL….Mason is 1-2-0 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .893 save percentage this season…..Bryan Little won 75% of his face-offs on Thursday night against the Panthers, which is significant because he
has struggled in that department at times this season (51.8% on the year)…..