Sunday, December 18, 2011

(12-18-11) Blue Jackets-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Neither the St. Louis Blues nor Columbus Blue Jackets skated Sunday morning in preparation for today's 7 p.m. (EST) game at Scottrade Center.

Both teams played Saturday night. The Blues (18-9-4) fell 2-1 in a shootout at Nashville, a place in which coach Ken Hitchcock hasn't won since a 2-1 win on Feb. 13, 2001 while coach of the Dallas Stars. He's now 0-10-6-1 in his last 17 games coaching at Bridgestone Arena. He's since been with Philadelphia, Columbus and now St. Louis and hasn't had any success in that building.

The Jackets (9-19-4) just wrapped up a discouraging five-game homestand with a 1-3-1 mark after a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay.

It'll be the second meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals, with the Blues winning 2-1 on Nov. 27 at Nationwide Arena on a David Backes third-period power play goal. It snapped a 1-1 tie.

The game marks the return of Jackets defenseman Nikita Nikitin to St. Louis for the first time since the Nov. 11 trade that sent Nikitin to Columbus for fellow defenseman Kris Russell.

The Blues could miss Jason Arnott (flu) for a second consecutive game after the veteran center missed Saturday's game.

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No major changes are expected by either team in their respective lineups tonight. The Blues will go with Saturday's lineup if Arnott is not ready to go:

Alex Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

David Perron-Patrik Berglund-Chris Stewart

Chris Porter-Matt D'Agostini-Jamie Langenbrunner

or

Matt D'Agostini-Jason Arnott-Jamie Langenbrunner

Evgeny Grachev-Scott Nichol-Ryan Reaves

or

Chris Porter-Scott Nichol-Ryan Reaves


Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Kris Russell-Roman Polak

Jaroslav Halak is expected to get the start again after stopping 19 shots in the shootout loss Saturday night. Brian Elliott would serve as the backup.

If Arnott returns, Grachev is expected to be a healthy scratch, along with defenseman Ian Cole. If Arnott sits, Grachev will likely play in the team's fourth line. Players on injured reserve for the Blues include winger Andy McDonald (concussion), winger B.J. Crombeen (shoulder), center Vladimir Sobotka (ankle) and defenseman Kent Huskins (ankle).

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The Jackets, who are
1-13-2 when allowing the first goal in a game and have only won 12 of their last 54 games dating back to last season (seven of them in regulation), will go with Saturday's lineup:

Vinny Prospal-Jeff Carter-Rick Nash

Antoine Vermette-Derick Brassard-Mark Letestu

R.J. Umberger-Samuel Pahlsson-Derek Dorsett

Jared Boll-Derek MacKenzie-Ryan Johansen

Marc Methot-James Wisniewski

Fedor Tyutin-Nikita Nikitin

John Moore-Grant Clitsome

Curtis Sanford, a former Blue, is expected to get the start; Steve Mason would serve as the backup after stopping 25 shots in the loss to the Lightning Saturday.

The Jackets are expected to scratch defenseman Aaron Johnson and left winger Dane Byers. Left winger Kristian Huselius is out indefinitely with a groin injury and defenseman Radek Martinek is out with a concussion.

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