The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a March weekender home stand. The first game of two for the Saturday night is against the San Jose Sharks in their second and final meeting of the year.
The Sharks are continuing their sell off amidst the rebuild. They made the sell off of the deadline with moving superstar Tomas Hertl to Vegas for their last first round and their 2025 first round pick. They also moved Kappo Kakkonen for Vitek Vanacek. Nikita Okhotiuk was dealt to Calgary. Radek Smiek was dealt to Detroit for Klim Kostin. Anthony Duclair was dealt to Tampa Bay.
Devin Cooley, prospects and picks came back to San Jose beside Vanacek and Kostin.
The Sharks were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this week, and the Blue Jackets are on pace to join in the coming days or week.
Columbus is looking to snap their three game losing skid. They are fully in on the holiday spirit and are looking to get healthy. After losing Kuraly, Chinakov, and Danforth recently to injury, we have seen the Monsters’ depth return to the main roster.
Expect a Vanacek v Tarasov baffle in the crease.
Projected Lineups
San Jose Sharks
Alexander Barbanov - - Mikael Granlund - - Fabian Zetterlund
Filip Zadina - - William Eklund - - Luke Kunin
Thomas Bordeleau - - Nico Sturm - - Klim Kostin
Givanni Smith - - Ryan Carpenter - - Justin Bailey
Mario Ferraro - - Kyle Burroughs Henry Thrun - - Marc Edouard-Vlasic Kelvin LaBanc - - Calen Addison
Magnus Chrona Devin Cooley
Scratched —
Injured — Oskar Lindblom, Logan Couture, Matt Benning, Mackenzie Blackwood, Vitek Vanecek, Mike Hoffman, Jacob MacDonald, Jan Rutta
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Alex Nylander
Trey Fix-Wolansky -- Dmitri Voronkov -- Kirill Marchenko
Alexandre Texier -- Cole Sillinger -- Mikael Pyyhtia
Carson Meyer -- Brendan Gaunce -- Mathieu Olivier
Zach Werenski -- Adam Boqvist
Ivan Provorov -- Damon Severson
Jake Bean -- Erik Gudbranson
Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov
Scratched: None
Injured: Adam Fantilli (calf), Patrik Laine (upper body), Justin Danforth (concussion), Sean Kuraly (lower body), Yegor Chinakhov (upper body)
Players to Watch
San Jose — Klim Kostin — healthiest newcomer from pickups at the deadline.
Columbus — Johnny Gaudreau — three points away from another 50 point season.
Predicted Final Score
SJS — 2
CBJ — 3