Fall is in the air, the leaves (or Leafs in Toronto) are changing as the temperature drops, the kids are back in school, football is back...scratch that, HOCKEY IS ALMOST BACK!
In just ten short days, the NHL will return. And this time it will be the full 82-game slate because there ain't no stinking lockout this year!
With a couple preseason games left, the injury bug appears to have bitten the Blue Jackets. Backup goalie Curtis McElhinney is out at least another week with a lower-body (groin?) injury. He is questionable for opening night, but who really cares...BOBROVSKY! Bob will obviously be starting, assuming he stays healthy.
On defense, Dalton Prout made his debut last night returning from surgery on August 15 to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen. Matt Calvert also debuted last night from a pulled groin. Speaking of last night...the Blue Jackets looked lifeless in a 2-1 shootout loss against Minnesota. The Wild fielded basically an AHL team as they sat their six biggest stars and starting goalie.
Nikita Nikitin is battling a "dent" in his foot/ankle after taking a puck. No timetable is set for the Russian's return but he should be in the lineup on 10/4 against Calgary. Both Jared Boll and Derek MacKenzie are out with injuries, putting them in jeopardy of starting for the home opener. Cody Bass, who wasn't expected to make the final cut anyway, suffered a broken thumb against the Wild.
Due to the injuries, the Jackets have re-called (called back up?) three forwards from Springfield - Dalton Smith, Sean Collins, and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault. They will be making the trip to Buffalo for the preseason game tomorrow.
As for opening night, the Blue Jackets have not sold out the October 4th tilt with Calgary according to CBJ officials. WHAT THE HECK CBUS?? Get on the bandwagon now and buy your tickets! They're available at bluejackets.nhl.com.
As opening night gets closer, we'll have a full preview up for the 2013-2014 season. Due to the continuing injuries, it's pretty hard to predict opening night lines at the moment. That picture should become clearer after the final two preseason games - at Buffalo on Wednesday and home against Carolina on Thursday.
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