|
CBJ G10 v Tampa Bay Lightning - November Rain |
|
|
|
|
|
The Columbus Blue Jackets begin the month of November with a home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Puckdrop is at 7pm from Bally Sports.
The Lightning are holding on in the Atlantic with the back injury to starting franchise goaltender Andrei Vaslievsky.
The Bolts are also dealing with the controversy of captain Steven Stamkos being a pending unrestricted free agent.
Tampa Bay had tough losses in the offseason due to long term contract extensions kicking in, costing the depth of the roster entirely.
In
Forwards Luke Glendenning, Tyler Motte, Austin Watson, Logan Brown, and Connor Sheary replace the new Bolts’ depth.
Calvin De Haan signed a near league minimum deal.
Jonas Johansson joined to be the backup for Vaslievsky.
Out
Alex Killorn signed for big money with the Ducks. Trevor Carrick also joined for the Gulls.
Ross Colton was dealt to Colorado.
Corey Perry was traded to Chicago for big money.
Ian Cole joined the former Penguins’ club in Vancouver.
Riley Nash joined the Rangers.
Patrick Marron was dealt to Minnesota.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare signed with Seattle.
Rudolfs Balcers, Gemel Smith, and Maxime Lagace headed to Europe.
Tampa is getting through the season also without Tyler Motte, former Blue Jackets’ fourth liner.
Jon Cooper will get the boys going as he is the longest tenured active head coach, and was the last coach to win back to back cups. He has this under control.
Columbus must win to get to be above 0.500 for the first ten games.
In bigger Columbus news, rumors are beginning to swirl about the future of Kent Johnson switching to the same agency as PLD and Jones, both who were moved out of Columbus in the last few years. The top five pick must play and develop on the ice with reps, not in the press box. Organizational error if they move him or let him sit any longer. This shouldn’t ever be a story, but it’s what Kek does to bargain the cost out of the young and inexpensive players.
Projected Lineups
Tampa Bay Lightning
Alexander Barre-Boullet—Brayden Point—Nikita Kucherov
Connor Sheary—Nic Paul—Steven Stamkos
Tanner Jeannot—Anthony Cirelli—Brandon Hagel
Michael Eyssimont—Luke Glendenning—Walter Merela
Victor Hedman—Erik Cernak
Mikael Segerachev—Nick Perbix
Calvin De Haan—Darren Raddysh
Jonas Johansson
Matt Tomkins
Injured — Andrei Vaslievsky, Tyler Motte
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Jack Roslovic
Kent Johnson—Adam Fantilli—Emil Bemstrom
Dmitry Vokornov—Cole Sillinger—Kirill Marchenko
Alexandre Texier—Sean Kuraly—Justin Danforth
Zach Werenski—Damon Severson
Ivan Provorov—David Jiricek
Jake Bean—Erik Gudbranson
Elvis Merzlikins
Spencer Martin
Scratched - Adam Boqvist, Andrew Peeke, Mathieu Olivier
Injured - Patrik Laine, Daniil Tarasov
Players to Watch
Tampa Bay - Steven Stamkos - the two time cup champ needs a new deal, and his season depends on it.
Columbus - Cole Sillinger - goalless in 10 games. In his redemption year. Red flag alert and needs to get back in the production.
Predicted Final Score
CBJ - 2
TBL - 4
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»