[8:00 PM] Blue Jackets @ Stars

Who will WIN this matchup?

Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0)

@ Dallas Stars (2-1-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Sergei Bobrovsky(CBJ): Unconfirmed

Kari Lehtonen(DAL): Likely

 

Current odds:

Columbus Blue Jackets: (+165)

Dallas Stars: (-185)

 

• The Columbus Blue Jackets attempt to make it two wins in as many nights as they take to the road for the first time this season to face the Dallas Stars on Saturday in the opener of their four-game trek. Columbus notched its initial victory of 2016-17 on Friday, edging Chicago to conclude a season-opening three-game homestand that began with losses to Boston and San Jose.

• Columbus could be missing a defenseman on Saturday as Ryan Murray suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of the victory over Chicago. The 23-year-old Murray appeared in all 82 games last season, registering a career-high 25 points in the process. The Blue Jackets assigned Oliver Bjorkstrand, who failed to notch a point in two games, to Lake Erie of the American Hockey League after Friday’s contest and recalled fellow forward Sonny Milano, who recorded an assist in three contests with Columbus last season.

• Ales Hemsky may make his season debut Saturday after suffering a groin injury during the World Cup of Hockey, but Jiri Hudler will miss his third straight game due to an illness.  With the injuries mounting, Dallas recalled forward Gemel Smith, who has yet to make his NHL debut, from Iowa of the AHL.

• The Blue Jackets likely will have Curtis McElhinney in the crease on Saturday after Sergei Bobrovsky produced a 32-save performance against Chicago.

• Dallas has struggled against Columbus of late, going 3-6-0 over the last four seasons.

• Columbus kicked off a stretch during which it plays five games in eight days on Friday after having five straight days off.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Dallas Stars

Confidence: 6/10

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