Blue Jackets tip their hand before the Panthers visit

Brian Hedger just reported that Cameron Talbot looks set to start for the Blue Jackets tonight against the Florida Panthers.

It isn't official. Talbot didn't skate at Columbus' optional morning skate, and coach Rick Bowness is expected to confirm the starter in about 40 minutes.

Hedger pointed to the practice habits: Talbot manned the home net on Sunday and Monday, so he is feeling like the choice.

The ones who did skate were Jet Greaves and Reid Robertson. Greaves has played 9 games this season, one more than Talbot's 8, but a 39-year-old with 575 NHL games on his résumé is the safer read for a team 28th in the league.

Florida's starter is not known yet. Markstrom started Sunday in Boston, a 4-1 loss, and he and Akira Schmid have each played 9 games. We looked at Akira Schmid's run and the Panthers' goalie call earlier this month, and Paul Maurice has now spread the work evenly.

Splitting the net equally looks fine in October. After the way the last week has gone, someone needs to grab the job.

Why Florida's goals-against slide matters in Columbus

The Panthers sit at 9-7-2 with 20 points, fifth in the Atlantic, and they bring a two-game skid into Nationwide Arena. Aaron Portzline noted they have lost three of their last four and allowed 16 goals in that stretch.

Portzline also reminded everyone that Florida beat Columbus 7-3 four weeks ago, with four power-play goals. That night is the only reason anyone would expect a mismatch, because the Blue Jackets are 7-8-0 with 14 points and a goal differential of -7.

Columbus is 6-3-0 at home but 1-5-0 on the road, so this is the building where they are most dangerous. They will also be without Conor Garland, who is out with an upper-body injury.

Hedger reported that Bowness doesn't have a timeline for Garland's return. Losing a winger who has one assist in 15 games hardly gutted the offense, which is the bigger problem for Columbus anyway.

Florida should score. The question is which goalie Maurice trusts after 16 goals against in four games, and whether the Jacob Markstrom comeback we tracked ends up as the better bet. The game streams tonight on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu, and Bowness's confirmation is due within the hour.

Quick hits

MONTREAL CANADIENSEric Engels just reported that Jacob Fowler starts in goal tonight against the Wild. Not a bad way to spend the night Carey Price is honoured.

WASHINGTON CAPITALSRyan Leonard plays his 100th career game tonight in Ottawa, and the Capitals made sure to mark it this morning.

HALL OF FAMECarey Price will be honoured in Montreal tonight after his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNINGFour regulars missed Tuesday's practice, and recalled Sam O'Reilly skated on a line with Jake Guentzel. Lines are shuffling in Tampa.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSTerry Koshan reports Sergei Bobrovsky was in the starter's net at the morning skate ahead of the Avalanche game, so he gets the call again.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.