Thursday, January 14 – 8:00 EST
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tennessee
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: On the Forecheck
Columbus Blue Jackets
at
Nashville Predators
It’s here! The season finally begins tonight, as the Blue Jackets start their 56 game sprint with a four game road trip. First up: two games against the Nashville Predators.
Player to Watch
Michael Del Zotto
One of the biggest surprises in camp was the emergence of veteran journeyman Del Zotto as a contender for a regular spot on the third defensive pair. It’s surprising because most fans around the league who have seen Del Zotto play for their team share the consensus that he’s not good. But he was good ten years ago when he played for Torts in New York, so the Jackets staff obviously sees something in him now. Is it worth stashing promising youngster Andrew Peeke on the taxi squad? We’ll find out. If MDZ does well, it’s good for the team. If he does poorly, hopefully that negative impact is minimized on the third pairing, and is only for a short term.
Jackets Notes
Free agent signing Mikko Koivu is unavailable for this game due to COVID-19 protocols. Once he is eligible to return, another roster move will have to be made to make room for him … Expected healthy scratches on the active roster are forward Kevin Stenlund and defensemen Scott Harrington and Gabriel Carlsson … Rounding out the roster in Columbus is the taxi squad, consisting of goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, defensemen Peeke and Adam Clendening, and forwards Stefan Matteau, Nathan Gerbe, and Ryan MacInnis … Torts told the media yesterday that he had informed the goalies who would start, but he declined to share that news with reporters. He did confirm that it would be a tandem, with neither goalie being the clear #1.
The Other Bench
The Preds are led by their captain, Roman Josi, who won the Norris Trophy last season as the top defensemen in the league … Forward Mikael Granlund is day to day with an injury … In their 20 year history, the Blue Jackets have won just 9 games in Bridgestone Arena … The last Blue Jackets win against the Predators was their last win in Nashville, during their hot streak in March 2019. Prior to that, they last won in Nashville in 2014 … The Blue Jackets are 7-12-0 against the Predators in the month of January.
Season Series
01/14/21 CBJ @ NSH
01/16/21 CBJ @ NSH
02/18/21 NSH @ CBJ
02/20/21 NSH @ CBJ
02/27/21 CBJ @ NSH
02/28/21 CBJ @ NSH
05/03/21 NSH @ CBJ
05/05/21 NSH @ CBJ
2019-20 Stats
Nashville | Columbus | |
---|---|---|
3.07 (16) | GPG | 2.57 (27) |
3.10 (19) | GAPG | 2.61 (3) |
17.3% (24) | PP% | 16.4% (27) |
76.1% (28) | PK% | 81.7% (12) |
50.9% (10) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 49.2% (19) |
51.6% (5) | 5v5 Unblocked shot attempt % | 50.9% (11) |
8.6 (9) | 5v5 Shot % | 6.8 (28) |
.920 (12) | 5v5 Save % | .928 (5) |
Filip Forsberg, 21 | G Leader | Oliver BJORKSTRAND, 21 |
Roman Josi, 49 | A Leader | Pierre-Luc Dubois, 31 |
Roman Josi, 65 | P Leader | Pierre-Luc Dubois, 49 |
Austin Watson, 65 | PIM Leader | Nick Foligno, 62 |
17-14-4 | Home / Road | 13-10-11 |
Projected Lineups
Mikhail Grigorenko | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Oliver BJORKSTRAND |
Nick Foligno | Max Domi | Cam Atkinson |
Boone Jenner | Alexandre Texier | Emil Bemstrom |
Liam Foudy | Riley Nash | Eric Robinson |
Zach Werenski | Seth Jones |
Vladislav Gavrikov | David Savard |
Michael Del Zotto | Dean Kukan |
Joonas Korpisalo |
Elvis Merzlikins |
Filip Forsberg | Ryan Johansen | Viktor Arvidsson |
Erik Haula | Matt Duchene | Rocco Grimaldi |
Calle Jarnkrok | Colton Sissons | Luke Kunin |
Nick Cousins | Brad Richardson | Eeli Tolvanen |
Roman Josi | Ryan Ellis |
Mattias Ekholm | Dante Fabbro |
Mark Borowiecki | Matt Benning |
Juuse Saros |
Pekka Rinne |