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Another adventurous back-to-back mission trip for the Columbus Blue Jackets commences tonight, into the St. Patrick’s Day night, against the two NHL nation capitol teams.
First, a trip to Canada‘s team: the struggling Ottawa Senators. Tonight, the game is in Kanata, where the two teams are coming in with rest, and the Sens with consecutive losses in their building. Their only win in their current home stretch was the first game, against the Seattle Kraken. Only once in their last 12 games did they allow one goal against. Every other game, it’s been multiple since February 18.
Even though they have seen great progress out of their young core, the Senators are preparing to move their rentals at the upcoming trade deadline. Nic Paul is most likely to go; Anton Forsberg has come up recently with the Leafs; Michael Del Zotto is getting calls in the minors; Chris Tierney has received interest from Minnesota and Boston; they would love to move Victor Mete; Erik Brandstom has come up before; Zach Sanford has been available.
Columbus is holding the same strategy as last deadline, waiting. It’s been genius. They got heists for Nick Foligno (congratulations on 1,000! games captain) and David Savard (and he won a cup). This year’s hope is Max Domi fetches a good return. They’re still holding Korpisalo for a second and a third round pick. Dean Kukan is third on the list.
The Jackets are 8-5-0 on the road in 2022, but haven’t won a game away from Nationwide this month in their only previous attempt. The Union Blue is coming back stronger tonight, with a healthy Jakub Voracek and Justin Danforth. Gabriel Carlsson is also getting a chance to play tonight. Elvis Merzlikins is also getting the start tonight. The Jackets are sitting Brendan Gaunce, Trey Fix-Wolansky, and Gavin Bayreuther.
Projected Lineups
Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk—Josh Norris—Connor Brown Alex Formetton—Tim Stutzle—Tyler Ennis Nick Paul—Collin White—Zach Sanford Parker Kelly—Chris Tierney—Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot—Artem Zub Nick Holden—Nikita Zatisev Erik Branstrom—Joshua Brown
Anton Forsberg Fillip Gustavsson
Scratched— Victor Mete, Adam Gaudette, Dylan Gambrell
Injured— Shane Pinto, Drake Batherson, Matt Murray
Columbus Blue Jackets
Gustav Nyquist—Jack Roslovic—Patrik Laine Max Domi—Cole Sillinger—Oliver Bjorkstrand Jakub Voracek—Sean Kuraly—Yegor Chinakov Eric Robinson—Justin Danforth—Emil Bemstrom
Zach Werenski—Andrew Peeke Vladislav Gavrikov—Jake Bean Gabriel Carlsson—Dean Kukan
Elvis Merzlikins Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched—Gavin Bayreuther, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Brendan Gaunce Injured—Nathan Gerbe, Boone Jenner, Alexandre Texier, Daniil Tarasov, Adam Boqvist
Players to Watch
Ottawa — Thomas Chabot— 26:42. First place in average time on ice per game. 33 points in 54 games, yet a minus -1. He’s an Ironman.
Columbus— Zach Werenski — 26:23. Second in the league in average time on ice per game. 37 points in 54 games, but a minus -9. He’s got the production nailed down as the guy.
Tomorrow, they return home for a date with Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in their barn on St. Patty’s day. Ovechkin just surpassed Jaromir Jagr for third all time in league goal scoring, and first amongst all European born hockey players to have played in the NHL. What a feat for a first ballot Hockey Hall of Famer.
On the other side of the coin, forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby scored his first career goal in the win. After seeing many games and years of him in Washington, he is supporting the team in all of the right ways thus far.
Washington just edged the New York Islanders in the shootout, and maintaining a 13-point spread on the Jackets for the final playoff spot. They have yet to lose in regulation in March.
The Capitals also just extended forward Joe Snively to a 2-year, $1.6M dollar contract extension. The Caps are in full buyers mode, looking to add veteran goaltending to push in the playoffs. They looked at Holtby before Dallas took him off the block; Fleury and that’s gone nowhere; and also former first rounder Semyon Varlamov.
They are without Carl Hagelin, who took a stick to the eye in practice; Lars Eller, who is in Vancouver with COVID; and the extended Joe Snively with a separate ailment.
Projected Lineups
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin—Evgney Kuznetsov—Connor Sheary Anthony Mantha—Nicklas Backstrom—TJ Oshie Daniel Sprong—Connor McMichael—Tom Wilson Axel Jonsson—Fjallby—Nic Dowd—Garnet Hathaway
Martin Fehervary—John Carlsson Dmitri Orlov—Nick Jensen Trevor van Riemsydk—Justin Schultz
Vitek Vancek Ilya Samsonov
Scratched— Injured— Lars Eller, Carl Hagelin, Joe Snively
Columbus Blue Jackets
Gustav Nyquist—Jack Roslovic—Patrik Laine Max Domi—Cole Sillinger—Oliver Bjorkstrand Jakub Voracek—Sean Kuraly—Yegor Chinakov Eric Robinson—Justin Danforth—Emil Bemstrom
Zach Werenski—Andrew Peeke Vladislav Gavrikov—Jake Bean Gabriel Carlsson—Dean Kukan
Elvis Merzlikins Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched—Gavin Bayreuther, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Brendan Gaunce Injured—Nathan Gerbe, Boone Jenner, Alexandre Texier, Daniil Tarasov, Adam Boqvist
Players to Watch
Washington — Tom Wilson— the Capitals NHL All Star has 40 points in 57 games this season. Big reason why they’re headed to the postseason. His size, scoring tough, and physical strength are superior.
Columbus— Max Domi — with 31 points in 50 games in a contract year, expect big things from home before Monday.
On the rumor cannon:
Defender Travis Dermott is gauging interest from Anaheim, Buffalo, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Columbus per David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period. If the Jackets and Leafs didn’t do a draft swap, Dermott could’ve been a Jacket draft selection in 2015, but they traded up for Gabriel Carlsson.Same reporter saying Ottawa and Columbus are in on forward Dylan Strome, though I’ve also heard Minnesota and the Rangers.
CBJ Rumor Cannon F Patrik Laine (RFA) [Cap Hit $7.5M] ANA, FLA, LA, NYI
G Joonas Korpisalo (UFA) [Cap Hit: $2.8M] COL, EDM, FLA, NJD, VGK
Reported asking price: 2nd and 3rd round picks
F Max Domi (UFA) [Cap Hit: $5.3M] BOS, COL, NYR, OTT, PIT, TOR,
F Kevin Stenlund (RFA) [Cap Hit: $1.05M] EDM
F Jack Roslovic (RFA) [Cap Hit: $1,838,662]
Interested In:
F Brendan Gallagher (MTL)
D Jacob Chychrun (ARI)
F Dylan Strome (CHI)
D Travis Dermott (TOR)