Bonjour!

The Columbus Blue Jackets return to the ice to do battle with the Montreal Canadiens at Nationwide Arena this evening.

Montreal is coming into this evening on a recent loss to the league’s best team, after being on a three game winning streak. This is the team’s first meeting of the season, where they made major draft day moves.

Draft day welcomed forwards Juraj Slafvosky and Kirby Dach, who have made the opening roster. Evgeni Dadanov was added days before the draft for the injured Shea Weber. Alexander Romanov was moved for the assets to acquire Dach.

Free agency welcomed Michael Matheson for Jeff Petry and Ryan Phoeling. Former Bolts Mitchell Stephens and Anthony Richard were signed along with former Cap Madison Bowey.

Sean Monahan was added with a first round pick to help Calgary’s cap situation.

Early in the season, Nicolas Beaudin was acquired from Chicago for Cameron Hillis. Jonathan Kovacevic was claimed off waivers from Winnipeg.

Rookie defenders Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and Jordan Harris also made the lineup due to defenseman injuries.

Jonathan Drouin was recently placed on the IR. Michael Matheson hasn’t played yet this season. Paul Byron and Carey Price are both on LTIR.

Columbus is fresh off an overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers, their second victory in the last week against Tortorella.

CBJ P15 — Roslovic Scratched, 2-0 v Torts

Vladislav Gavrikov gets another overtime winner to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-4.

Sean Kuraly opened the scoring with a goal in his first game back from injury. The opening goal was Kuraly’s 3rd goal of the season; Gavrikov and Eric Robinson got the assists.

Captain Boone Jenner doubled the Jackets’ lead for his 5th of the season; the powerplay goal was assisted by forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Kent Johnson.

Philadelphia comes back with to even the game. Kevin Hayes’ 4th came from Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton. Noah Cates’ tie maker came from Zach MacEwen and Owen Tippett.

Jenner’s second of the game for Columbus their second lead of the game for his 6th of the season.

Eric Robinson’s second of the season came from Mathieu Oliver and Marcus Bjork. Congratulations to Bjork for his first career assist.

The final two Flyers goals brought the game to overtime. Nick Seeler’s second game from Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. Travis Konecny came from Cates and Hayes.

Gavrikov’s OT dub came from Yegor Chinakov and Cole Sillinger.

Travis Konecny was the player to watch for the Flyers, where he had a goal and an assist.

Carter Hart stopped 28 of 33 for a 0.848 save percentage.

Boone Jenner was my guy to watch, where he had 2 goals: one power play and one unassisted.

Elvis Merzlikins was injured midway through. In his efforts, he allowed 2 goals in 17 shots for a 0.882 save percentage. Joonas Korpsialo stopped 2 of 20 shots for a 0.900.

Jake Bean and Emil Bemstrom were also both hurt in the game. Bemstrom is fine. Jake Bean has been placed on the IR.

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Boone Jenner — 2 goals (6)

2. Vladislav Gavrikov — OT GWG (2), assist (2)

3. Eric Robinson — goal (2), assist (3)


The losses of Jake Bean and Elvis Merzlikins hurt this team, as both are out the next week or two. This completely fudges the Columbus lineup against Montreal. Luckily, Bemstrom is healthy. Jack Roslovic is back for Brendan Gaunce; Daniil Tarasov has been recalled on an emergency to backup Joonas Korpisalo.

Projected Lineups

Montreal Canadiens
Cole Caufield Nick Suzuki— Kirby Dach
Mike Hoffman—Christian Dvorak—Brendan Gallagher
Evgenii Dadanov—Sean Monahan—Josh Anderson
Michael Pezzetta—Jake Evans—Juraj Slafkovsky

Kaiden Guhle—David Savard
Arber Xhekaj—Joel Edmundsson
Jordan Harris—Jonathan Kovacevic

Jake Allen
Samuel Montembault

Scratched — Remi Pitlick, Chris Wideman

Injured — Jonathan Drouin, Michael Matheson, Carey Price, Paul Byron

Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Emil Bemstrom
Yegor Chinakov—Cole Sillinger—Gustav Nyquist
Liam Foudy—Jack Roslovic—Kent Johnson
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Oliver

Vladislav Gavrikov—Marcus Bjork
Jake Christiansen—Erik Gudbranson
Gavin Bayreuther—Andrew Peeke

Joonas Korpisalo
Daniil Tarasov

Scratched — Brendan Gaunce
Injured — Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski, Justin Danforth, Jake Bean, Adam Boqvist, Nick Blankenburg, Jakub Voracek, Elvis Merzlikins


Players to Watch

Montreal — Cole Caufield — the Martin St. Louis reclamation project is in full effect with their best pure sniper. Caufield has 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points in 16 games.

Columbus — Vladislav Gavrikov — he is their top defenseman due to the number of injuries. He’s got 2 goals, both in game winning overtime moments, and 2 assists. David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period is reporting interest from the Sens, Leafs, Kings, and Oilers in the pending unrestricted free agent. Jeff Marek has reported on the Leafs as well.

Prediction

Montreal 3-2 OT

Note: What a game in Cleveland and Belleville with a 8-7 overtime shootout decision by the Sens.

Bonne chance mes amis! À bientôt!

More to come…

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