Friday, December 2, 2022 – 8:00 P.M. EST
Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, Manitoba
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Arctic Ice Hockey
Columbus Blue Jackets (7-12-2, 16 points, 8th Metro, 16th East)
at
Winnipeg Jets (14-6-1, 29 points, 2nd Central, 4th West)
The last time I wrote a preview was back on the 12th, which (thanks to an unscheduled water main leak in Nashville), was the last time the Jackets played a road game. After seven straight at home, they hit the road and cross the border to face the revitalized Winnipeg Jets
Player to Watch
Pierre-Luc Dubois
He’s not the best Jet this season, but he’ll always be the most interesting one for Jackets fans. Or, at least for as long as he is a Jet. He is having another productive season, with 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 games. PLD is playing on a one year, $6 million contract and will be a restricted free agent again in the summer, this time with arbitration rights. He’s made it known he wants to test the free agent market in summer 2024. Do the Jets trade him before then, or keep him around for the short term, while the team is doing well?
Jackets Notes
Big changes to the lineup as Patrik Laine and Elvis Merzlikins were both activated off of the IR yesterday. Daniil Tarasov was returned to Cleveland in a corresponding move … Several players missed practice this week, including Johnny Gaudreau, Yegor Chinakhov, and Mathieu Olivier. Gaudreau and Chinakhov returned to practice yesterday but Olivier did not … Also yesterday, prospects Luca Del Bel Belluz and James Malatesta signed their entry level contracts.
The Other Bench
The Jets have gotten off to a great start under new coach Rick Bowness, including a 5-0 win over Colorado on Tuesday … Connor Hellebuyck is back to his old ways, with a .931 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average.
Season Series
12/02/2022 CBJ @ WPG
02/16/2023 WPG @ CBJ
Stats
| Winnipeg | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.24 (15) | GPG | 2.86 (24) |
| 2.52 (4) | GAPG | 4.10 (31) |
| 20.9% (18) | PP% | 15.4% (30) |
| 82.1% (7) | PK% | 79.0% (17) |
| 48.9% (22) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 44.7% (26) |
| 48.4% (23) | 5v5 Unblocked shot attempt % | 45.0% (29) |
| 8.3 (17) | 5v5 Shooting % | 8.5 (14) |
| .945 (3) | 5v5 Save % | .893 (32) |
| Mark Scheifele, 12 | G Leader | Boone Jenner, 9 |
| Josh Morrisey, 20 | A Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 14 |
| Josh Morrisey, 25 | P Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 22 |
| Brenden Dillon, 40 | PIM Leader | Mathieu Olivier, 37 |
| 8-2-0 | Home / Road | 1-4-1 |
| 7-3-0 | Last 10 | 4-4-2 |
Projected Lineups
| Patrik Laine | Boone Jenner | Johnny Gaudreau |
| Gus Nyquist | Jack Roslovic | Kent Johnson |
| Yegor Chinakhkov | Cole Sillinger | Carson Meyer |
| Eric Robinson | Sean Kuraly | Liam Foudy |
| Vladislav Gavrikov | Marcus BJORK |
| Jake Christiansen | Erik Gudbranson |
| Gavin Bayreuther | Andrew Peeke |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Cole Perfetti | Mark Scheifele | Blake Wheeler |
| Kyle Connor | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Morgan Barron |
| Axel Jonsson-Fjallby | Adam Lowry | Saku Maenalanen |
| Jansen Harkins | David Gustafsson | Michael Eyssimont |
| Josh Morissey | Dylan Demelo |
| Brenden Dillon | Neal Pionk |
| Dylan Samberg | Nate Schmidt |
| Connor Hellebuyck |
| David Rittich |