SETTING THE STAGE: Last night's 5-3 win in Tampa was not only a skid-snapper, but in the process, the Blue Jackets got back to their fast and aggressive team game. When they skate, forecheck and convert turnovers into scoring chances, they're a hard team to contain and the Lightning found that out early on in the game.
File it away, bottle it, whatever is needed. The Blue Jackets are happy with the win, but they don't have long to celebrate as they're right back at it tonight against a Florida Panthers team that always presents a stern test. Though they've endured an up-and-down start (10-9-1 through 20 games), there's no denying the Panthers have depth and the ability to win games in a variety of different ways; with four lines that can score, a solid defense and two quality goaltenders, the Panthers have a lineup that can get on a roll and work their way back into the Atlantic Division picture.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. The Blue Jackets are 8-2-2 so far in November - the best November in franchise history - and with a win tonight, they can jump into playoff position in the Metropolitan Division.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS: Justin Scott was recalled from the Cleveland Monsters on Friday morning, but did not dress last night against the Lightning. Matt Calvert (upper body) is day-to-day but did not travel with the Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets' No. 1 ranked power play went 1-for-2 last night, getting a first-period goal from captain Nick Foligno.
PROJECTED CBJ LINEUP:
Saad - Wennberg - Foligno
Jenner - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Hartnell - Karlsson - Anderson
Hannikainen - Sedlak - Gagner
Werenski - Jones
Johnson - Savard
Nutivaara - Murray
\goaltender TBA*
