The Blue Jackets lose, again, 4-0 to the Boston Bruins.
Matt Grzelyck got his first of the year from Czech mates Pavel Zacha and my Boston player to watch, pending UFA winger David Pastrnak. Charlie Coyle got his third in a second period short handed tally. Jake DeBrusk got his third goal unassisted. Pasta got his 7th of the year from the lone assist by captain Patrice Bergeron. Linus Ullmark stopped all 30 shots faced.
Elvis was yanked after allowing 4 goals on 29 shots faced; while Daniil Tarasov stopped all 6 shots faced. This club is now 0/24 on the power play. They’re the only organization with 3 wins in the Eastern Conference, and only one with a minus double digit goal differential. Their young defense and goaltenders along with the number of injuries has not helped their dilemma.
At 2pm on Sunday, October 30, they do battle with the New Jersey Devils in Newark at the Prudential Center. The Devils added forwards Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Brian Pinho; defenders Brendan Smith, Tyler Wotherspoon, and John Marino; and goaltender Vitek Vanecek.
For the Columbus lineup, Jake Bean is back after missing the Friday shutout.
Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils
Tomas Tatar—Nico Hischer—Fabian Zetterlund Erik Haula—Jack Hughes—Jesper Bratt Yegor Sharangovich—Dawson Mercer—Jesper Boqvist Miles Wood—Nathan Bastian—Michael McLeod
Joonas Sigenthaler—Dougie Hamilton Ryan Graves—John Marino Brendan Smith—Damon Severson
Vitek Vancecek Mackenzie Blackwood
Scratched — Kevin Bahl, Alexander Holtz Injured — Ondrej Palat, Jonathan Bernier
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau—Jack Roslovic—Patrik Laine Yegor Chinakov—Cole Sillinger—Jakub Voracek Gustav Nyquist—Boone Jenner—Kent Johnson Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Liam Foudy
Zach Werenski—Andrew Peeke Vladislav Gavrikov—David Jiricek Jake Bean—Erik Gudbranson
Daniil Tarasov Elvis Merzlikins
Scratched — Mathieu Oliver, Gavin Bayreuther
Players to Watch
New Jersey — Jack Hughes — their best player. The most underrated contract in the NHL actively going forward. Bless their management for this move.
Columbus — Johnny Gaudreau — he turned them down to be in Columbus, now being closer to his family there will be extended pressure.