SETTING THE STAGE: When John Tortorella talks about keeping his team "on a flat line" and not getting too high or low, he's referring to games much like their next game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Less than two weeks ago, the Blue Jackets wrapped up a four-game road trip against these same Ducks in their barn at Honda Center. Columbus jumped on the Ducks quickly, scoring four times in the first period and holding on the rest of the way for a 4-0 win that sent them home with a 3-3-1 record.
Rather than worry about how the Ducks will approach this game, Tortorella's main focus is how the Blue Jackets prepare to answer the bell after a disappointing overtime loss in St. Louis. They've had some time off to think about it, they've had some practice days, and some time to review what went wrong. He was not happy with how some of his top players performed and could be prepared to make lineup changes against Anaheim, but the morning skate on Wednesday will tell the story.
They had a lead in St. Louis and one mistake in overtime allowed Vladimir Tarasenko to sneak down the left side and beat Curtis McElhinney, securing the extra point for the Blues.
A solid start against the Ducks is on the Blue Jackets' radar and they will need it against a team that's building some momentum as it begins a road trip out east.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS: In the absence of Seth Jones (out three weeks with a foot fracture), it appears as though Dalton Prout will slot in against Anaheim. Tuesday's practice lines suggested that Brandon Saad could be the odd man out for this game, and if so, Sonny Milano would take his place in the lineup. Sergei Bobrovsky will get the start in goal for the Blue Jackets.
PROJECTED CBJ LINEUP:
Hartnell - Wennberg - Foligno
Calvert - Karlsson - Anderson
Jenner - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Milano - Sedlak - Gagner
Werenski - Savard
Johnson - Murray
Nutivaara - Prout
Bobrovsky
