The Columbus Blue Jackets have Cole Sillinger back in the lineup as the Jackets clash with the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time this season.
With two days left in January, it’s rare that two teams face each other this late in the season. However, the schedule did turn out this way.
Vegas has witnessed a career season out of forward Jack Eichel, as he is already four points away from most points he has had with the Golden Knights.
Out
Paul Cotter was dealt to New Jersey.
Logan Thompson was dealt to Washington.
Jonathan Marchessault was not extended and reunited with Stamkos in Nashville.
Anthony Mantha signed with Calgary.
Alec Martinez joined the Blackhawks.
William Carrier signed with Carolina.
Zach Aston-Reese was claimed off waivers by Columbus
Michael Amadio signed with Ottawa
Byron Frose and Sheldon Remoal did head to Europe.
Chandler Stephenson signed with Seattle.
In
Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid were acquired from New Jersey.
Ilya Samsonov signed as the backup.
Victor Olofsson and Robert Hagg also signed short term deals.
Preview
Columbus has been abysmal on the road as they are 7-14-4. The Jackets kick off their four game road trip tonight; followed by Utah, Dallas, and Buffalo.
Projected Lineups
Vegas Golden Knights
Ivan Barbashev -- Jack Eichel -- Mark Stone Victor Olofsson -- Tomas Hertl -- Pavel Dorofeyev Raphael Lavoie -- Nicolas Roy -- Keegan Kolesar Tanner Pearson -- Brett Howden -- Cal Burke
Noah Hanifin -- Alex Pietrangelo Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Ilya Samsonov Adin Hill
Scratched: Ben Hutton, Kaedan Korczak
Injured: William Karlsson (lower body), Cole Schwindt (lower body)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dmitri Voronkov -- Adam Fantilli -- Kirill Marchenko James van Riemsdyk -- Cole Sillinger -- Kent Johnson Zach Aston-Reese -- Luca Del Bel Belluz -- Mathieu Olivier Mikael Pyyhtia -- Sean Kuraly -- Justin Danforth
Zach Werenski -- Dante Fabbro Jake Christensen -- Ivan Provorov Denton Mateychuk -- Damon Severson
Elvis Merzlikins Daniil Tarasov
Scratched: Jordan Harris, Jack Johnson
Injured: Sean Monahan (wrist), Yegor Chinakhov (upper body)
Players to Watch
Vegas — Jack Eichel — the top center of the Golden Knights has had 5 goals and 8 points in his last three games.
Columbus — Cole Sillinger — the center man is back as he has missed the last few games with a hand injury. Sillinger has 23 points in 45 games this season.
Predicted Final Score
VGK — 4
CBJ — 3
Gambling Corner
Vegas is a -298 favorite and Columbus is a +240 for an upset.
Editors Note
With the second half of the back to back tomrorow in Utah, there will be a second pregame blog before the post game on Saturday.