EDMONTON, Alberta -- Jan Hejda and Mike Commodore have formed one of the top shut-down defensive tandems in the NHL this season, the ideal No. 1 pair for the system run by Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock.

But the effect of playing extended minutes against the opponents' top forwards seems to have caught up with them. Hejda and Commodore have a minus-6 rating in the past five games.

"No season -- none that I've had, anyway -- goes silky smooth," Commodore said yesterday as the Blue Jackets prepared to play Edmonton tonight. "There are going to be rough stretches, and right now is definitely a rough stretch. We're not creating very much and we're turning the puck over way too much."

In a 4-1 loss Tuesday to Calgary, the pair had trouble with the speedy line of Michael Cammalleri, Craig Conroy and Jarome Iginla.

Tonight, they will face a line featuring Ales Hemsky.

But Hitchcock indicated that Hejda and Commodore won't be asked to shoulder the entire load.

"We need to get them a break," Hitchcock said. "They've played heavy minutes. We need to freshen them up again, get them feeling good about themselves.

"They're harder on themselves than anybody. They take real pride in being plus players every night, and they've not been as sharp lately as they've been all year. They know they have to be better."

Commodore and Hejda spent time in practice chatting it up.

"We've been out of sync," Commodore said. "We haven't been getting open for each other. We've talked about it. We'll come around. It's no big deal. It'll come around soon."

Brassard to join club

Center Derick Brassard, out for the season after shoulder surgery, is expected to meet the team in Vancouver. He'll spend a couple of days in the NHL's most picturesque city, then fly back to Columbus with the Blue Jackets late Sunday.

"We want to keep him engaged as part of the group," general manager Scott Howson said. "He's a big part of our future, obviously, a big part of this team."

Brassard is scheduled to visit doctors in Cleveland Clinic next week. He could be cleared to resume skating shortly but is still a long way from being cleared for contact.

Asked if there was any way Brassard would return this season -- say, if the Blue Jackets reach the playoffs -- Howson didn't hesitate.

"No," he said. "Not going to happen."

Slap shots

The Blue Jackets required the services of a practice goaltender so they could give rookie Steve Mason a breather. Real Cyr, a backup at the University of Alberta, took the opposite end of the rink from Wade Dubielewicz. Mason is expected to make his eighth straight start. Center Chris Gratton, claimed off re-entry waivers from Tampa Bay, is expected to make his Blue Jackets debut tonight.

aportzline@dispatch.com