We are down to the wire on trade deadline week, and this is the first meeting of the season between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Vegas Golden Knights. Puckdrop is at 7pm from the Nationwide Arena for Elvis Presley night.
Vegas is the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and they are looking like they want to compete, despite losing their captain for the season. We see former Blue Jackets’ Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and Keegan Kolesar as champions.
Vegas added some younger depth talent over the summer and through the waiver wire, including Denisenko, Morelli, and Bjornfort while losing Phil Kessel (VAN) and Reilly Smith (PIT).
Columbus lost Elvis to injury in the Chicago game, and have called up Jet Greaves. Tarasov has the reigns against the Vegas team that has lost back to back.
Projected Lineups
Vegas Golden Knights
Ivan Barbashev -- Jack Eichel -- Jonathan Marchessault Paul Cotter -- William Karlsson -- Michael Amadio Grigori Denisenko -- Chandler Stephenson -- Keegan Kolesar Mason Morelli -- Nicolas Roy -- Brendan Brisson
Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Adin Hill Logan Thompson
Scratched: Daniil Miromanov, Ben Hutton, Sheldon Rempal, Bryson Froese
Injured: Brett Howden (upper body), Mark Stone (upper body), Pavel Dorofeyev (upper body), William Carrier (upper body), Tobias Bjornfot (undisclosed)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Jack Roslovic Yegor Chinakhov -- Dmitri Voronkov -- Kirill Marchenko Alexandre Texier -- Cole Sillinger -- Alex Nylander Justin Danforth -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier
Zach Werenski -- Adam Boqvist Ivan Provorov -- Damon Severson Jake Bean -- Erik Gudbranson
Daniil Tarasov Jet Greaves
Scratched: Andrew Peeke
Injured: Adam Fantilli (calf), Patrik Laine (upper body), Kent Johnson (torn labrum), Elvis Merzlikins (upper body)
Players to Watch
Vegas — Jonathan Marchessault — 9 points in his last 5, broke season high in goals at 32.
Columbus — Cole Sillinger — let the goal streak continue.
Predicted Final Score
VGK - 5
CBJ - 2