Tonight's Match Up: Dallas Stars
Record: 1-5-1; 6th in the Central with 3 points
Streak: Lost 2
Goal Differential: -10
Road Record: 1-3
Blue Jackets
Record: 2-3; 7th in the Metro with 4 points
Streak: Won 1
Goal Differential: -7
Home Record: 1-2
On paper this looks like a pretty even match up. Both team made the playoffs last year, advancing to the 2nd round and losing to the eventual conference champions (Stanley Cup Champion Blues in the case of Dallas).
Each team has struggled to score with CBJ netting 11 goals in 5 games and DAL potting 13 in 7. Neither team likes the way they have started but the DAL start is much more surprising than the 2-3 start in Columbus.
Position-by-Position Break Down
Offense: Dallas
While their offense has underachieved early in the season the talent level has a higher ceiling mostly due to Radulov and Seguin. It also doesn't look like we are going to see Anderson back in the line up in the near future as he was placed on the IR.
Goaltending: Dallas
Bishop hasn't found his playoff form from last year yet, but is a proven NHL goalie who can steal a game on his own. His stat line reads very close to Korpi's: GAA 2.78 (2.75 for Korpi), Sv% .895 (.892 for Korpi) but neither are getting goal support. They should both be in net for tonight's match.
Defense: Columbus
I cannot hide the fact that I am high on the CBJ defensive corp. There are 8 or 9 guys who should be getting NHL minutes every night. When Savard is the 6th or 7th defensemen, you know you have an abundance of talent at that position. This is no knock on the DAL defensemen. And C-bus hasn't exactly been stout in giving up goals with 18 surrendered in 5 games (3.6 per). However, if you remove Elvis' first game (7 goals against) that number looks somewhat better at 2.75 goals per game.
Dallas is struggling to the point that some are panicking. Nothing like a good road trip with your back against the wall to pull the team together, am I right? I hope I'm not right. This is a game that Columbus needs to put away early and move along to CHI. If this was last year's team I would say that is possible, but every game this year will be a close affair.
What does CBJ need to do to Win?
The same three things that we have talked about before:
1. Play team defense...do I need to say more on this?
2. Score early and play with a lead...not rocket science.
3. Support their goaltender...Korpi is starting to come around.
This makes for boring hockey I know. But Panarin isn't on the roster any longer and this is a team that has to play together and gritty hockey in order to win. Tonight will end in a 4-2 or 4-3 victory but I'm not sure who takes the W. Good luck Jackets.
Thanks for reading.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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