Tampa Bay at Atlanta (7:00 PM EST): It's time to see if former Blue Jackets netminder Marc Denis will sink or swim. He's got a team only a couple years removed from a Stanley Cup, a better defense than the Blue Jackets have ever had, and proven scorers that'll ensure that if he lets in a couple goals, he can for the most part get bailed out every now and then.

Much luck to you, Denis. Even if you're not a Jacket anymore, you deserve a chance at being a starting goaltender for a team that is being projected for a playoff spot. Just don't go muxing it up!

Vancouver at Detroit (7:00 PM EST): Having no love for either team, my hopes for the team to win tonight are on the Canucks, who I'd like to see keep the Red Wings in check and keep them from getting two points to start off the regular season. This'll be a good chance to see a Central Division rival in action with a projected roster, and see whether or not Hasek will snap like a twig in his first regular season game since ... what, March?

And then there's also the chance to see what Vancouver will bring to the table when they storm Columbus tomorrow night. On top of that, there's always the advantage of playing a team that is on the tail end of a "two games in two nights" situation ... so long as they don't get pumped up from a good or bad first game of the season, that is.

Chicago at Nashville (8:00 PM EST): There's a few reasons this game interests me. First of all, we all know the Predators are the favorite pick to win the Central Division this season, with the Red Wings reeling from a few off-season losses to the team and no other teams ready to threaten for the division title. But then there's also the surprising Blackhawks, who posted a 7-1-1 record in the pre-season. Yes, I know, pre-season means little to nothing when it comes to a team's record during it ... but you can't just brush what they did aside. Was this just a flash in the pan, or is this something more?

I'm hoping it's the former, of course.

If you're a Blue Jackets' fan, keep an eye on the last two games at the least if you're interested in seeing what you should be prepared for in both the division and tomorrow evening. And if you're not? Well, then I recommend either watching Sid the Kid or Alex the Great in their respective games this evening. You can never get enough of their amazing feats of hockey skill, right?

Moving on, let's wrap up with the injury issues between Bryan Berard and Anson Carter (the report on their situations is further down the article). Berard is considered out indefinitely until the team and doctors figure out what the frell is going on with his back, so there goes a potent power play difference maker for the Blue Jackets, his defensive prowess aside.

Meanwhile, Carter still has his plantis fasciitis shoopadus whoopadus painitus ... okay, he's still got inflammation in his foot, to just cut through the medical jargon. Fortunately he will play, even if he is sore and hurting as a result. How it'll affect his play, no one can really guess. Remember in a previous article this was reported in, Carter spoke of how a good walk to the arena would normally take care of any soreness. So let's hope that's the case tomorrow night.