Preview: Blue Jackets at Kings

GAME 5: BLUE JACKETS AT KINGS
STAPLES CENTER, 10:30 P.M.
TV: FOX SPORTS OHIO / FOX SPORTS GO
RADIO: 97.1 FM / BLUEJACKETS.COM / CBJ APP

SETTING THE STAGE: Don't be mistaken - John Tortorella is encouraged by what he's seen from the Blue Jackets in their last two outings. What he also wants to see, however, is how his young team responds to a taste of success and if they can sustain their level of play to answer the call when things are going well.
Their momentum from a Friday night win over Chicago carried right into Dallas the next night. They skated as well as they have in the early season, hunted down pucks, created turnovers and played at a high pace that reached its peak in the third period. Rather than sit on a 1-0 lead, the Blue Jackets attacked in the third period and put the Stars on their heels, eventually getting an insurance goal from Scott Hartnell and an empty-netter from Matt Calvert.
It also helps when Sergei Bobrovsky is on form, and he was certainly that throughout a 32-save shutout performance.

Up next is a Tuesday night matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, the first of two meetings between the clubs this season and the only meeting at STAPLES Center. The Kings are banged up right now, particularly in goal, where they're missing both No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick and No. 2 Jeff Zatkoff due to injuries.
Next man up Peter Budaj, a well-traveled NHL veteran who has spent time in the minor leagues over the past few seasons, is now the Kings' starting goaltender while Jack Campbell is serving as the backup.
It may be a desperate situation in goal for the Kings right now, but they're finding ways to get points. After starting 0-3-0, Los Angeles has rattled off back-to-back wins beyond regulation; their first win of the year was a 4-3 OT win in Dallas last week, and on Saturday, they picked up a shootout win over the Canucks.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS:Don't expect any lineup changes for the Blue Jackets. Tortorella likes his mix and balance through all four lines and three defense pairs. Bobrovsky will get the start against the Kings while Budaj is expected to go for Darryl Sutter's club.
PROJECTED CBJ LINEUP:
Calvert - Dubinsky - Atkinson
Saad - Wennberg - Foligno
Hartnell - Karlsson - Anderson
Jenner - Sedlak - Gagner
Werenski - Jones
Johnson - Savard
Nutivaara - Prout