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“I think that was one of the most fun games I've ever been to as a Jackets fan. Keep it up Noel, earn yourself that head coaching job!”

by devilpenny on Saturday's Game Thread

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Jackets-Thrashers preview
Thursday,  November 5, 2009 3:13 AM
7 TONIGHT

PHILIPS ARENA, ATLANTA

  • TV: Fox Sports Net
  • Radio: WBNS-AM (1460), WWCD-FM (101.1)

The series

The Blue Jackets are 5-5-0-0 against the Thrashers, including 2-3-0-0 in Philips Arena. This is the first of two meetings this season.

The setup

The Blue Jackets have won the past two meetings against the Thrashers 2-0. The Thrashers are 2-1-0 since captain Ilya Kovalchuk suffered a broken foot, including a 5-4 victory Tuesday in Montreal. To the right are the lines used by the Blue Jackets last night against San Jose.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

 

Columbus Blue Jackets at a glance

• Past 10 games: 5-3-2

• Power play: 22.8 percent (11th in the NHL)

• Penalty kill: 79.3 percent (18th)

• Player to watch: Rick Nash had a goal and an assist Nov. 22 against Atlanta.

• Injury update: D Mike Commodore (charley horse), LW Kristian Huselius (undisclosed) and C Derick Brassard (hand), questionable; LW Fredrik Modin (knee), C Andrew Murray (shoulder), out

Atlanta Thrashers at a glance

• Past 10 games: 5-4-1

• Power play: 27.5 percent (third)

• Penalty kill: 83.3 percent (eighth)

• Player to watch: G Ondrej Pavelec is fourth in the NHL with a .921 save percentage while the Thrashers wait for Kari Lehtonen to get healthy.

• Injury update: D Ron Hainsey (lower body), LW Rich Peverley (knee), probable; LW Ilya Kovalchuk (foot), D Boris Valabik (ankle), G Lehtonen (back), out



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