Game #1 Preview: Blue Jackets host Flyers to open the season

Thursday, October 12, 2023 – 7:00 P.M. EST
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Broad Street Hockey

Philadelphia Flyers (2022-23 record: 31-38-13, 75 points, 7th Metro, 14th East)

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Columbus Blue Jackets (2022-23 record: 25-48-9, 59 points, 8th Metro, 16th East)

After a long and emotional roller-coaster of an offseason, it’s finally time for real hockey! The Blue Jackets look to bounce back from a season where anything that could go wrong, went wrong. Their opponent, the Flyers, also struggled last year and are still firmly in rebuild mode.

Player to Watch

Adam Fantilli

Quite an occasion for the #3 overall pick from this summer’s draft: it’s his 19th birthday today, and he’s making his NHL debut. He’s the best prospect this franchise has seen since Rick Nash, and he’s poised to make an immediate impact. Nick Cotsonika at NHL.com had a good piece yesterday about Fantilli, with perspective from some stars around like the league like Dylan Larkin and the last freshman to win the Hobey Baker, Jack Eichel.

Jackets Notes

Just like last year in Carolina, it appears that Kent Johnson will be a healthy scratch in the opener. Head coach Pascal Vincent has concerns about his pace of play, but hopefully he’ll see game action soon, against the Rangers and/or Red Wings … Lots of news items yesterday. First, Justin Danforth was signed to a one year extension for the 2024-25 season. He would have been a UFA after this season … Josef Boumedienne, most recently the director of pro scouting, was added to the coaching staff, replacing the spot vacated by Kenny McCudden this summer. Jared Boll will be behind the bench full time, and both he and fellow assistant Steve McCarthy received extensions through 2024-25, in line with the contracts of Vincent and general manger Jarmo Kekalainen … Jeff Rimer — who has been the TV voice of the Blue Jackets since the 2005-06 season — announced that he will retire at the end of this season. I recommend reading his farewell on the team’s website, where he recounts his career in the way that only Rimer can … The team officially announced the leadership team. Joining captain Boone Jenner and returning alternate captain Zach Werenski are new alternates Sean Kuraly (home games) and Erik Gudbranson (road games).

The Other Bench

Rasmus Ristolainen, aka the “Finnish Erik Gudbranson,” is on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury and is a game time decision … Returning to the Flyers’ lineup are veteran forwards Sean Couturier and our old friend Cam Atkinson, each of whom missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season with injuries.

Season Series

10/12/2023 PHI @ CBJ
11/19/2023 CBJ @ PHI
01/04/2024 CBJ @ PHI
04/06/2024 PHI @ CBJ

2022-23 Stats

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Philadelphia Flyers