Scouting the Blue Jackets

This is the fourth and final meeting between the Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets, and there was no shortage of goals in the first three games. The Kings lost 5-3 at Staples Center on Nov. 17, won 6-4 at Staples Center on Jan. 8 and won 4-3 in a shootout on Feb. 16 in Columbus. The Blue Jackets have a 0-3-3 record in their last six games and are desperately in need of some wins. With 16 games remaining in their regular season, the Blue Jackets are in 12th place in the Western Conference, eight points behind the eighth-place Kings. The status of injured Columbus forwards Derick Brassard and Scottie Upshall for tonight’s game is not known, although Brassard is considered more likely to play. Chris Clark would be in the lineup if Brassard or Upshall is out. For the latest on the Blue Jackets, check out the Columbus Dispatch’s blog, and below are the expected lineups for the Blue Jackets and Kings.

Columbus Dispatch Blue Jackets blog

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BLUE JACKETS LINEUP
Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Jakub Voracek
Matt Calvert-Antoine Vermette-RJ Umberger
Scottie Upshall-Samuel Pahlsson-Derek Dorsett
Ethan Moreau-Derek MacKenzie-Jared Boll

Jan Hejda-Marc Methot
Kris Russell-Grant Clitsome
Fedor Tyutin-Craig Rivet

Steve Mason

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KINGS LINEUP
Penner-Kopitar-Williams
Smyth-Stoll-Brown
Ponikarovsky-Handzus-Simmonds
Clifford-Lewis-Westgarth

Mitchell-Doughty
Johnson-Scuderi
Martinez-Greene

Bernier