Columbus Blue Jackets Travel to St. Louis for Third Preseason Bout

The Columbus Blue Jackets third preseason game finds the team comprised mostly of NHLers.

After hours of on ice preseason preparation and two actual games, the Columbus Blue Jackets roster is beginning to shake out. Players are starting to separate themselves and the staff has formed two distinct groups in practice. One, a group of probably NHLers and the other group destined for Cleveland.

Tonight the CBJ will play their third game of the preseason and first game on the road when the travel to St. Louis. The 7pm puck drop will be carried only on the radio and at bluejackets.com. The lack of streaming coverage on a more popular platform is disappointing because the game will feature several players and matchups that are must see, starting in goal.

The offseason for the team has been mired in constant discussion surrounding the Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovksy situations. Tonight though, we can talk about the on ice performance of Bob and not whether or not he will be with the team next year. It will be Sergei’s first start in the preseason and the first start for any of the Jackets top two projected goalies.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Bob will likely play two periods before back up Brad Theissen comes in to close out the game.

Defensively we might find the most intriguing players on the ice. The Jackets will play the three players that are seemingly battling for the final defensive slot on the team and the projected partner for the sixth defenseman, David Savard.

Dean Kukan, Gabriel Carlsson, and Scott Harrington will all suit up tonight but none of them will be paired with Savard. Kukan and Harrington will be partnered and Carlsson will be paired with surprise performer Adam Clendening.

Clendening has a chance to force his way into the conversation for the final d-man slot as he has played well in training camp and his first preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Savard will be paired with Doyle Somerby.

Forwards to Watch

The top line for the Jackets tonight is an intriguing mix of players all who coming into camp would have been projected to play away from each other. Sonny Milano and Jonathan Davidsson will be the wings on a line centered by Riley Nash.

Nash in practice has been the third line center with Boone Jenner and Josh Anderson on his wing. This line has worked nicely and I think it’s ultimately where he will end up but Davidsson getting this opportunity is huge. Davidsson has been slotted in the NHL group during practice and the organization is high him. Keep an eye out on how Davidsson does tonight on a line with two other NHLers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets first round pick, Liam Foudy, will look to continue impressing in his first NHL training camp. He will center the third line with Eric Robinson and Justin Scott on the wings.

Finally keep an eye on Nikita Korostelev who will make his Jackets debut tonight. Korostelev was a Traverse City invitee and performed well. The Russian is a very creative player with a deadly accurate shot. Hopefully we get to see Nikita show off his skills.

All of these lines are from Brian Hedger’s fantastic reporting. He has done a great job covering this wild Jackets preseason and if you aren’t following him, you’re missing out dearly.

With the difficult viewing options you can always chose to follow us on twitter, @UnionAndBlue, where we will be live tweeting the game.