Saber at Blue Jackets | Instructions, storylines and more

Storylines

1. The lineup

The Sabers will not be holding a morning skate, so check back for lineup updates after coach Lindy Ruff meets with the media around 4:50 p.m

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen played in Pittsburgh, where Devon Levi will likely start tonight. Levi has stopped 57 of 62 shots in two starts this season, including a 34-save win over the Panthers on Saturday.

2. Back to back

The Sabers complete their second consecutive set of the season. Ruff spoke ahead of the trip about learning from the first set after suffering two losses to the New Jersey Devils in the Czech Republic earlier this month.

Ruff said he thought the Sabers played a strong game in their first meeting with the Devils, but missed too many dangerous chances in the second.

“What I really like is that in the meetings afterward, everyone recognized that you just can’t run everywhere,” Ruff said. “You can’t make high-risk plays.

“You’re in a back-to-back duel, don’t miss out on the quality opportunities. But in back-to-back games you have to play a smarter game, otherwise the energy often can’t keep up with the team you’re playing against if they’re not playing back-to-back.”

3. Explore the Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets had an emotional home opener where they honored the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

With the Gaudreau family in attendance, the team raised a banner in memory of Johnny and Matthew before the Rafters game. They took the first faceoff, with the left field vacant as a tribute to Johnny, and then allowed 13 seconds to expire from the game clock to point out his jersey number.

Sean Monahan – Gaudreau’s close friend and teammate for years in Calgary – scored a goal in the 4-3 loss to Florida and immediately pointed to the Gaudreau banner.

“I felt like Johnny was looking down on us today,” Monahan said after the game. according to the Blue Jackets website.