Blue Jackets Travel into "The ATL" to Face the Thrashers

After having to live with the sour taste of dropping an egg and losing 7-2 to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night that Columbus Blue Jackets travel into Atlanta to meet former Jacket Ron Hainsey and the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Thrashers are currently on a three game losing streak after falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 Thursday night. The good news for the Thrashers is historically the Blue Jackets have been able to heal slumping teams and players. You do not have to look very far to see the last example of it either.

On Tuesday night, the Oilers came into Nationwide Arena licking their wounds after looking like a peewee hockey team the night before in Detroit and awoke to a tune of seven goals on just 19 shots. Not to mention slumping Dustin Penner scored his fourth goal of the season after going pointless in the three previous games.

The key storyline to this game is this is the only time this season the Blue Jackets get to see former teammate Hainsey in action. Hainsey had 19 goals and 64 assist for a total of 83 points in his three seasons spent on the blue line in Columbus before signing with the Trashers this past off season.

Hainsey is off to a good start this season putting up 12 points in 18 games including six power-play points. Also, right winger Derek Dorsett will make his return the the Jackets lineup tonight, which should add some much needed spark to a energyless hockey team.

Keys to the Game

• Can the anemic Blue Jackets power play take advantage of the man advantage? The Jackets are dead last in the league converting on only 12.1 percent of their chances. Look for newly found play maker Jason Chimera as the point man of the second power player unit. Speaking of special teams. Can the penalty kill get back on track after giving up two power-play goals on only three chances against the Oilers on Tuesday.
• After a subpar performance by starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire, rookie Steve Mason will get his fifth career NHL start against a wide open offensive team. Can the kid step up and make big saves to keep the Blue Jackets in it?
• Score first! Columbus is 0-6-3 when giving up the first goal of the game.

Players to Watch

• Hainsey—how will he play against his former team?
• Rick Nash—after a slow start, he is on a four-game goal-scoring steak. Can he keep it up?
• Derick Brassard, after winning rookie of month in October, has yet to come back down to the real world. He has 19 points in 18 games, including points in five straight.