Scouting the Blue Jackets

Tonight’s game is the third of four meetings this season between the Kings and the Columbus Blue Jackets, and follows the Kings’ 2-1 victory at Columbus on Dec. 15 and the Blue Jackets’ 1-0 victory at Staples Center on Jan. 7. Columbus opened its post-All-Star schedule last night with a 6-0 loss to San Jose, so the Blue Jackets don’t figure to be in the best of moods. They are 0-5-1 in their last six road games, with their last road victory coming, yes, against the Kings last month. The Blue Jackets are expected to start Curtis Sanford in goal. Sanford played the two previous games against the Kings and stopped a combined total of 70 of 72 shots. Andrew Joudrey is expected to make his NHL debut in place of Ryan Johanson. Joudrey, 27, has seven goals in 42 AHL games this season. The Blue Jackets will be without Jeff Carter (shoulder) and Marc Methot. For the latest on the Blue Jackets, check out the coverage in The Columbus Dispatch, followed by tonight’s possible lineups for the Kings and the Blue Jackets…

The Columbus Dispatch’s Blue Jackets coverage

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KINGS LINEUP
Dustin Brown-Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams
Dustin Penner-Mike Richards-Jarret Stoll
Brad Richardson-Andrei Loktionov-Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford-Colin Fraser-Kevin Westgarth

Rob Scuderi-Drew Doughty
Willie Mitchell-Slava Voynov
Jack Johnson-Matt Greene

Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Bernier

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BLUE JACKETS LINEUP
Vaclav Prospal-Antoine Vermette-Rick Nash
R.J. Umberger-Derick Brassard-Andrew Joudrey
Ryan Russell-Samuel Pahlsson-Derek Dorsett
Colton Gillies-Derek MacKenzie-Jared Boll

Fedor Tyutin-Brett Lebda
John Moore-Aaron Johnson
Grant Clitsome-David Savard

Curtis Sanford
Steve Mason

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