The Columbus Blue Jackets conclude their home stand with their second back-to-back series with game one against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Columbus and Pittsburgh played a split squad series in the preseason, a 3-2 overtime loss in Pittsburgh; and a 5-2 win at home.
Pittsburgh has been scoring lots of goals, and this will need to be locked down for the Jackets to win at home. The Penguins are a now team, and every game matters for points.
This will be Gaudreau’s first regular season matchup against the Metropolitan, and this will be his first time in the bloodbath.
Projected Lineups
Pittsburgh
Jake Guentzel—Sidney Crosby—Rickard Rakell Jason Zucker—Evgeni Malkin—Bryan Rust Brock McGinn—Jeff Carter—Kasperi Kapanen Danton Heinen—Ryan Phoeling—Drew O’Connor
Brian Dummolin—Kris Letang Marcus Petterson—Jeff Petry Ty Smith—Chad Ruhwedel
Tristian Jarry Casey DeSmith
Columbus
Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Gustav Nyquist Kent Johnson—Cole Sillinger—Jakub Voracek Justin Danforth—Jack Roslovic—Yegor Chinakov Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Oliver
Zach Werenski—Adam Boqvist Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke Jake Bean—Erik Gubdranson
Elvis Merzlikins Daniil Tarasov
Scratched — Liam Foudy, Nick Blankenburg Injured — Laine, Korpi, Luooto