Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 – 7:00 EST
Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
TV: Fox Sports Ohio – Radio: WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Eyes on the Prize
Columbus Blue Jackets, 6-8-3, 15 points, 7th Metro, 13th East
@
Montreal Canadiens, 9-5-3, 21 points, 3rd Atlantic, 6th East
After a bad loss against the Colorado Avalanche, things got worse for Columbus as it was announced Nick Foligno would be suspended for three games by the Department of Player Safety for his hit on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Saturday night.
Columbus’ Nick Foligno has been suspended for three games for Elbowing Colorado’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. https://t.co/hvxyOshaXf
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 11, 2019
In addition, the team recalled Elvis Merzlikins and opted to start him tonight. The team is apparently extremely displeased in Joonas Korpisalo’s continued on-ice outbursts.
Merzlikins was expected to spend the week with @monstershockey, so this is a change of plans. GM Jarmo Kekalainen wouldn’t comment this morning, but probably safe to assume #CBJ aren’t happy w Joonas Korpisalo’s stick-slamming reactions to two goals vs #Avs on Saturday. 2/?
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 10, 2019
In addition, the team has recalled Eric Robinson from the Cleveland Monsters and he is expected to draw into the lineup for Nick Foligno.
Player to Watch
Jonathan Drouin
Drouin, traded to the Canadiens for Mikhail Sergachev by the Tampa Bay Lightning, now leads the Canadiens in goals and points. With 15 points in 17 games, he has been the leader of a Montreal team that has eight Canadiens with 10 points (the Blue Jackets have just two players with double digit points). Drouin has emerged as a scoring threat and a leader of the deep Canadiens offense.
Jackets Notes
Zach Werenski broke the franchise record for goals by a defenseman in his last outing for the club … This represents Nick Foligno’s first career suspension by the Department of Player Safety … Gustav Nyquist has a point in every road game thus far this season … The Blue Jackets are just two points ahead of New Jersey in the Metro standings
The Other Bench
The Canadiens will not have Jesperi Kotkaniemi tonight due to a groin injury … Shea Weber missed Monday’s practice due to a virus … former Blue Jacket Keith Kinkaid is now backing up Carey Price in Montreal … The Canadiens, after struggling on the power play for much of 2018-19, are finding success this season by a renewed focus on rapidly moving the puck to open shooting lanes, which has led to Shea Weber rediscovering his game (he is currently on pace for 20 goals)
Season Series
11/12/2019 CBJ @ MTL
11/19/2019 MTL @ CBJ
02/02/2020 CBJ @ MTL
Stats
| Montreal | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.53 (5) | GPG | 2.35 (30) |
| 3.12 (20) | GAPG | 3.41 (23) |
| 21.4% (12) | PP% | 14.3% (25) |
| 72.2% (29) | PK% | 76.5% (25) |
| 51.87% (8) | 5v5 Corsi % | 49.67% (19) |
| 51.76% (6) | 5v5 Fenwick % | 51.69% (8) |
| 9.71% (3) | 5v5 Shot % | 6.21% (31) |
| .926 (11) | 5v5 Save % | .914 (19) |
| Jonathan Drouin, 7 | G Leader | Pierre-Luc Dubois, 6 |
| Tomas Tatar, 9 | A Leader | Seth Jones, Gustav Nyquist, 8 |
| Jonathan Drouin, 17 | P Leader | Pierre-Luc Dubois, Gustav Nyquist, 11 |
| Tomas Tatar, 20 | PIM Leader | Nick Foligno, 19 |
| 5-3-0 | Home / Road | 3-3-2 |
| 6-3-1 | Last 10 | 3-5-2 |
Projected Lineups
| Alexandre Texier | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Cam Atkinson |
| Sonny Milano | Boone Jenner | Josh Anderson |
| Gustav Nyquist | Alexander Wennberg | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Eric Robinson | Riley Nash | Emil Bemstrom |
| Zach Werenski | Seth Jones |
| Dean Kukan | David Savard |
| Vladislav Gavrikov | Scott Harrington |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Jonathan Drouin | Phillip Danault | Brendan Gallagher |
| Paul Byron | Max Domi | Joel Armia |
| Tomas Tatar | Nick Suzuki | Artturi Lehkonen |
| Ryan Poehling | Nate Thompson | Nick Cousins |
| Victor Mete | Shea Weber |
| Ben Chiarot | Jeff Petry |
| Brett Kulak | Cale Fleury |
| Carey Price |
| Keith Kinkaid |