- 7 tonight, Nationwide Arena
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TV: Fox Sports Ohio
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Radio: WBNS-AM (1460), WWCD-FM (101.1)
The series
The Blue Jackets are 14-13-1-3 against Minnesota, including 10-4-1-0 in Nationwide Arena. This
is the first of four games this season.
The setup
The Blue Jackets are 2-1-1-1 at home in season openers. Will there be spillover from Eric
Belanger's hit on Jason Chimera during the preseason? The Wild have won three of the last four in
Nationwide Arena.
-- Aaron Portzline
Columbus Blue Jackets at a glance
• Last season: 41-31-10, 7th in Western Conference
• Power play: 12.7 percent (30th NHL)
• Penalty kill: 82.1 percent (13th, NHL)
• Player to watch: Derick Brassard could be a point-a-game player next to Rick
Nash if he can stay healthy this season.
• Injury update: LW Fredrik Modin (sprained right knee), out.
Minnesota Wild at a glance
• Last season: 40-33-9, 9th in Western Conference
• Power play: 20.1 percent (9th, NHL)
• Penalty kill: 87.6 percent (2nd, NHL)
• Player to watch: Martin Havlat takes a spot on the No. 1 line, replacing
Marian Gaborik, who the Wild allowed to walk via free agency this summer.
• Injury update: F Benoit Pouliot (groin) is questionable; F Derek Boogaard
(concussion) is out.
