PREVIEW: Blackhawks at Blue Jackets 9/18

TIME: 6 p.m. CT
TV:NBCSCH+ RADIO:ESPN 1000
The Blackhawks look to learn more about some of their young players when they play the Blue Jackets in Columbus tonight, opening their preseason schedule. The game will be played at 6 p.m. CT at Nationwide Arena.
The Blue Jackets are 0-1-0 in preseason play after a 4-1 loss to Buffalo last night. David Savard was the lone goal scorer for Columbus. Brad Thiessen and Matiss Kivlenieks split time in goal with the former making nine saves on 13 shots and the latter stopping all seven shots he faced.
Columbus outshot the Sabres 37-20, but went 0-for-5 on the power play.

SEASON SERIES:
This is the first of two preseason meetings between the two clubs. They will play each other again on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. CT in Chicago (PURCHASE TICKETS).
During the 2017-18 season, Chicago faced Columbus two times, splitting the series. The Blackhawks defeated the Blue Jackets 5-1 at the United Center on October 7, 2017. They lost 3-2 at Nationwide on February 24, 2018.
This season, Chicago plays Columbus twice. They'll head to Ohio on October 20, and then host the Blue Jackets on February 16 (PURCHASE TICKETS).
LINEUP NOTES:
Artem Anisimov is one of the few NHL veterans making the trip to Columbus for the Blackhawks. The former Blue Jackets forward has been skating on a line with young up-and-coming prospects Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura at camp.
Free-agent signing Dominik Kahun is also expected to make the trip.
As for other youngsters, 2018 first-round pick Adam Boqvist is expected to make his preseason debut, along with 2017 first-round pick Henri Jokiharju. 2018 fourth-round pick Philipp Kurashev is also projected to skate with the team in this one. The blueline will be mostly made up of young defenders with the exception of PTO camp invite Brandon Davidson and Erik Gustafsson.
As for the situation between the pipes, it's likely that Cam Ward and Collin Delia will split time in some form.
FORWARDS (15)
15 Artem Anisimov
17 Victor Ejdsell
84 Alexanre Fortin
40 John Hayden
36 Matthew Highmore
64 David Kampf
24 Dominik Kahun
37 Graham Knott
16 Marcus Kruger
71 Philipp Kurashev
29 Andreas Martinsen
78 Nathan Noel
54 Henrik Samuelsson
11 Jordan Schroeder
95 Dylan Sikura
DEFENSEMEN (7)
27 Adam Boqvist
63 Carl Dahlstrom
22 Brandon Davidson
56 Erik Gustafsson
55 Blake Hillman
28 Henri Jokiharju
75 Jake Ryczek
GOALTENDERS (2)
60 Collin Delia
30 Cam Ward
OPPONENT TO WATCH:
One Blue Jackets player to watch who will be active tonight is defenseman Seth Jones, who finished second on their team in scoring last season with 57 points (16 G, 41 A). Jones is just 23 and was taken fourth overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by Nashville. He was acquired by Columbus via trade in 2016.
See their full lineup is below: