It should be an interesting coaching matchup, as well.
Columbus coach John Tortorella hired Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan as an assistant on his staff with the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14, and they coached together that season. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, who won the Stanley Cup the past two seasons, was the other assistant on that staff.
"We went through some philosophy things, the three of us, when we were going through the ups and downs in Vancouver, and I do think it made all three of us better coaches going through some of that stuff," Tortorella said. "[Gulutzan is] very intellectual about the game, and that's where the game is going. A lot of different things are being brought into coaching, and I think 'Gully' is on top of those."
SERIES RECORD
2017-18 Season: (0-0-0). This is the first of two games in the season series. The Blue Jackets will visit Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Mar. 29 for the finale.
All-time: 30-19-6 overall; 17-7-4 at Nationwide Arena
"BY THE NUMBERS"
WHO'S HOT
Flames:Johnny Gaudreau is on a career-high 10-game point streak, including a goal and assist in Calgary's 4-1 victory Monday at the Washington Capitals. He has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in the streak.
Blue Jackets:Artemi Panarin has four goals in the last seven games, including one in each of the past two contests. Panarin leads Columbus in scoring with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists).
EYES ON: THE FLAMES
EYES ON: THE BLUE JACKETS
QUOTABLES
"Wherever I'm needed. Right now, it's center, so I'm just focusing on that, but wherever the team thinks is the right fit, I'm happy to do it. Just like when I went to center. Whatever they think is necessary to help our team and be a good lineup, I'm all for it." - Blue Jackets center Nick Foligno on the possibility of moving back to the wing this season.
"It wasn't that kind of motivation. I was just so … mad. I was so mad. I think that gave me a big push." - Blue Jackets defenseman Markus Nutivaara, who didn't make the NHL roster out of training camp, on the driving factor in his play since being recalled Oct. 15 from Cleveland of the American Hockey League.
"I knew it was my 400th [game]. It's one of those milestones where it's pretty special. Hopefully I get a leather jacket. I know [Brandon Dubinsky] and [Jack Johnson] said when they hit 400, they got those nice [letterman's] jackets, so I'm going to be asking around and say, 'Hey, I want a jacket.'" -Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson, on playing his 400th NHL game Wednesday.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
FLAMES
Forward lines (12)
Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett - Mark Jankowski - Jaromir Jagr
Kris Versteeg - Freddie Hamilton - Troy Brouwer
Defense pairings (6)
Mark Giordano - Dougie Hamilton
T.J. Brodie - Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak - Michael Stone
Goaltenders
Mike Smith
Eddie Kack
Others: Matt Stajan, Curtis Lazar, Matt Bartkowski
Injured reserve: None
BLUE JACKETS
Forward lines (12)
Boone Jenner - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson
Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Josh Anderson
Tyler Motte - Nick Foligno - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jordan Schroeder - Lukas Sedlak - Markus Hannikainen
Defense pairings (6)
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Jack Johnson - David Savard
Ryan Murray - Markus Nutivaara
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Others:Scott Harrington, Sonny Milano
Injured reserve:Matt Calvert (upper body)
