Game #13 Preview: Blue Jackets look to break losing streak as they take on Blues

Columbus Blue Jackets at St. Louis Blues
Friday, November 1, 2019 – 8:00 EST
Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s blog: St. Louis Game Time

Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-5-2, 12 points, 5th Metro, 11th East
@
St. Louis Blues, 7-3-3, 17 points, 3rd Central, 5th West

Well, it would be nice to win this one.

The Blue Jackets head into tonight’s matchup with the Blues on the heels of a meltdown against the Philadelphia Flyers and then a no-show against the Edmonton Oilers. The Jackets allowed four goals on 12 shots to the Oilers before Joonas Korpisalo was yanked in favor of Elvis Merzlikins.

Now the Jackets look to get back on track against … the defending Stanley Cup Champions.   Luckily, the Jackets are catching the Blues in a slump. The Blues are just 5-3-2 in their last ten and have lost Vladimir Tarasenko for the next five months.

BREAKING NEWS: Vladimir Tarasenko will require surgery on his left shoulder and will be re-evaluated in five months. https://t.co/prtlxmmZze #stlblues

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 28, 2019

After coming on in relief of Korpisalo on Wednesday night, Elvis Merzlikins saved every shot he saw from the Oilers. Elvis, after struggling in his NHL debut, has looked better in each of his last two appearances and is making the case for more playing time.

The Jackets have been outscored 9-2 in their last four periods of hockey. Tonight they must find a way to get back to their winning ways and play solid defense without the mental mistakes that plagued them on Wednesday. Let’s shoot for zero too many men on the ice penalties tonight as a first step, shall we?

Player to Watch

Ryan O’Reilly

Last season’s Conn Smythe winner is currently tied for the Blues’ points lead with 13 thus far this season – to go along with three goals, the center has ten assists in 13 games played. In 28 career games against the Blue Jackets, O’Reilly has posted a 6-13-19 line, including two shorthanded tallies. The Jackets will have to rise to the occasion of stopping O’Reilly, particularly now that Tarasenko is no longer on his wing. O’Reilly comes into the game tonight with 2-4-6 in his last five games.

Jackets Notes

With the Jackets playing a back to back tonight and at home tomorrow against the Calgary Flames, the team recalled Markus Hannikainen for an extra forward to take on the trip as Alexandre Texier is on the injured reserve list … Zach Werenski scored his 41st goal for the Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, tying him with Rostislav Klesa for the most goals by a defenseman in Blue Jackets history … The Jackets scored a power play goal on Wednesday, just their second in their last 27 opportunities, but also managed just one quality chance on a 5-3 that lasted 1:47 … Merzlikins made 19 saves in his Nationwide Arena debut in relief of Korpisalo

The Other Bench

The Blues defeated the Wild to send to the Wild to 1-8 on the road this season in their last outing … After signing an eight year contract extension with the Blues in September, Brayden Schenn leads the Blues in goals this season with nine in 13 games played … Defenseman and captain Alex Pietrangelo has nine points his first 13 games for the team, but there is concern among some fans that Roman Josi’s recent extension means that Pietrangelo’s time in St. Louis is nearing its end

Season Series

11/01/2019 CBJ @ STL
11/15/2019 STL @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

St. Louis Blues