Game #8 Preview/Gamethread: Blue Jackets visit Devils

Sunday, October 31, 2021 - 5:00 EST
Prudential Center - Newark, New Jersey
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: All About the Jersey

Columbus Blue Jackets (4-3-0, 8 points, t-6th Metro, t-11th East)

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New Jersey Devils (4-2-0, 8 points, 5th Metro, 10th East)

It’s a spooooooooky Halloween match, as the ghostly Blue Jackets offense seeks to resurrect itself against the frighteningly successful New Jersey Devils.

Player to Watch

Gus Nyquist

Nyquist has just a single point this season: his goal late in garbage time in the opener against Arizona. For someone relied on for top six minutes (fifth in average TOI among Columbus forwards), he needs to provide a lot more. It’s not even that he’s been unlucky; he’s not even getting chances. He has only six shots on goals in seven games.

He’s projected to play today on a line with Cole Sillinger and Gregory Hofmann, a line which feels more like spare parts than any sort of coherent blend of skills and styles.

Jackets Notes

After two straight starts, Elvis Merzlikins sits in favor of Joonas Korpisalo, who last played in a loss to Carolina just over a week ago. With a light schedule coming up, Korpi may have to wait another week or more before playing again.

The Other Bench

The Devils are coming off of a win against Pittsburgh last night, in what was somehow their first road game of the season ... Like Columbus, the Devils have gotten their wins mostly at home and mostly against struggling teams, with their losses coming against the best teams they’ve faced ... Read more about their offseason here.

Season Series

10/31/2021 CBJ @ NJD
01/06/2022 CBJ @ NJD
01/08/2022 NJD @ CBJ
03/01/2022 NJD @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups