The Blue Jackets coaching staff might have made an important discovery last night in Chicago regarding Derick Brassard and Jake Voracek. That line plays better with a big winger on the left side.
Think back to the past two seasons when Brassard and Voracek had success together as they did last night in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 win over the Blackhawks. A common denominator was a -- let's brush off our Hitchionary -- a weighty winger on the left side. There was Jason Chimera to start the 2008-09 season with the Two Kids and Old Goat line. At end of last season, interim coach Claude Noel put R.J. Umberger with Brassard and Voracek and the line finished fairly strong.
Fast forward to last night when Rick Nash joined the duo. Brassard scored a goal, Nash hit a post and Voracek created chances. Don't know if Scott Arniel intends to keep that line together but I get a sense he understands why the two kids work better with a straight-line winger.
Where does that leave Filatov? For now, the fourth line. We'll have more on this topic in Monday's Dispatch.
Side dishes
-- Arniel did not play Filatov in the third period against the Hawks, but said the Russian winger looked more competitive than he did Friday versus Calgary. Filatov will be back on the fourth line Monday against the Flyers.
"As Filly continues to do what he did he earns that trust back again," Arniel said. "I told him he?s got to go back there (the fourth line) and start again. He?s not starting in the stands, he?s not starting in the American Hockey League, he?s starting on the fourth line and trying to work his way back up. That was a good first step."
-- Defenseman Marc Methot and winger Kristian Huselius did not practice today. Both were smarting from blocking slap shots in Saturday's game. Arniel said Huselius was "limping around pretty good" this morning. Both players will be evaluated on Monday.
-- Backup Mathieu Garon is expected to start against the Flyers. He will be alert when Jeff Carter steps to the right faceoff dot. You will recall Carter scoring directly off the faceoff last season in Philadelphia. Garon was still peaking at the Jumbotron as the puck got dropped.
Garon has been solid throughout training camp and won his only start of the regular season in Minnesota.
-- Arniel said defenseman Kris Russell (groin) will miss Monday's game. Right wing Jared Boll (back) could be a game-time decision, but probably won't return until at least Thursday in Edmonton.
-- Defenseman Mike Commodore (sprained thumb) says he does not have a timetable for his return.
-- Forward Andrew Murray (sprained right knee) will see a doctor Monday and hopes to rejoin practice soon.
Think back to the past two seasons when Brassard and Voracek had success together as they did last night in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 win over the Blackhawks. A common denominator was a -- let's brush off our Hitchionary -- a weighty winger on the left side. There was Jason Chimera to start the 2008-09 season with the Two Kids and Old Goat line. At end of last season, interim coach Claude Noel put R.J. Umberger with Brassard and Voracek and the line finished fairly strong.
Fast forward to last night when Rick Nash joined the duo. Brassard scored a goal, Nash hit a post and Voracek created chances. Don't know if Scott Arniel intends to keep that line together but I get a sense he understands why the two kids work better with a straight-line winger.
Where does that leave Filatov? For now, the fourth line. We'll have more on this topic in Monday's Dispatch.
Side dishes
-- Arniel did not play Filatov in the third period against the Hawks, but said the Russian winger looked more competitive than he did Friday versus Calgary. Filatov will be back on the fourth line Monday against the Flyers.
"As Filly continues to do what he did he earns that trust back again," Arniel said. "I told him he?s got to go back there (the fourth line) and start again. He?s not starting in the stands, he?s not starting in the American Hockey League, he?s starting on the fourth line and trying to work his way back up. That was a good first step."
-- Defenseman Marc Methot and winger Kristian Huselius did not practice today. Both were smarting from blocking slap shots in Saturday's game. Arniel said Huselius was "limping around pretty good" this morning. Both players will be evaluated on Monday.
-- Backup Mathieu Garon is expected to start against the Flyers. He will be alert when Jeff Carter steps to the right faceoff dot. You will recall Carter scoring directly off the faceoff last season in Philadelphia. Garon was still peaking at the Jumbotron as the puck got dropped.
Garon has been solid throughout training camp and won his only start of the regular season in Minnesota.
-- Arniel said defenseman Kris Russell (groin) will miss Monday's game. Right wing Jared Boll (back) could be a game-time decision, but probably won't return until at least Thursday in Edmonton.
-- Defenseman Mike Commodore (sprained thumb) says he does not have a timetable for his return.
-- Forward Andrew Murray (sprained right knee) will see a doctor Monday and hopes to rejoin practice soon.
