Thursday, December 19, 2024 – 7:00 PM EST
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: FDSNOH, MSGSN; Radio: 97.1 FM
Columbus Blue Jackets (12-15-5, 29 points, 8th Metro, 14th East)
at
New Jersey Devils (21-10-3, 45 points, 1st Metro, 1st East)
Coming off an unimpressive road trip, can the Jackets recover against one of the best teams in the NHL?
Player to Watch
Jakob Markstrom
Last season Devils fans were clamoring for the team to make a change at goaltender and Jakob Markstrom was frequently linked as the likely replacement. It did not happen in-season, but the Devils traded a 1st round pick this summer to acquire the Swedish goaltender from Calgary. Following a slow start, Markstrom has rounded into form and can boast a .941 save percentage in his last three games.
The Other Bench
The New Jersey Devils moved on from Lindy Ruff as head coach in the offseason and brought in Sheldon Keefe, recently of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Devils have plenty of offensive power but under Keefe they are playing a great defensive game led by Dougie Hamilton, former Hurricane Brett Pesce on the back-end and captain Nico Hischier up front. The Devils have possibly the best Power Play in the league right now and it operates with notably more movement than most others you’ll see in the NHL.
Jackets Notes
James Malatesta has been recalled from the Cleveland Monsters for the first time this season, the organization is hoping his energy and passion can rejuvenate the team. Malatesta has 6-6-12 in 25 GP so far this year, and put up 2-2-4 in 11 games with the NHL club last year. He is projected to start on the 4th line with Kuraly and Tuna. Jet Greaves was returned to Cleveland, we are likely to see Elvis start the next three games.
Jack Johnson was cleared to play Wednesday after suffering from some blurry vision from the high stick in Carolina. Dante Fabbro is questionable for tonight’s matchup after colliding with Geekie in the Tampa game, which is good news. Waddell said “it looks like we dodged a bullet there” and that “It looks like it’s more of a charley horse than a knee injury.” per Portzline’s recent article. Looks like Fabbro is out tonight and Severson will replace him on the top pair.
Season Series
12/29/2024 NJD @ CBJ
03/11/2025 CBJ @ NJD
03/17/2025 NJD @ CBJ
Stats
| New Jersey | Columbus | |
| 3.35 (7) | GPG | 3.22 (11) |
| 2.56 (2) | GAPG | 3.63 (30) |
| 30.1 (2) | PP% | 18.2 (22) |
| 82.1 (9) | PK% | 72.4 (28) |
| 52.02 (8) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 50.3 (16) |
| 51.65 (10) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 50.27 (14) |
| 8.94 (14) | 5v5 Shooting % | 9.57 (8) |
| 91.4 (12) | 5v5 Save % | 89.82 (27) |
| Nico Hischier, 16 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 11 |
| Bratt & J. Hughes, 28 | A Leader | Zach Werenski, 21 |
| Jasper Bratt, 42 | P Leader | Marchenko & Werenski, 31 |
| Brenden Dillon, 39 | PIM Leader | Mathieu Olivier, 60 |
| 12-4-0 | Home/Road | 8-4-3 |
| 6-3-1 | Last 10 | 2-6-2 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| James van Riemsdyk | Sean Monahan | Kent Johnson |
| Dmitri Voronkov | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko |
| Zach Aston-Reese | Cole Sillinger | Mathieu Olivier |
| James Malatesta | Sean Kuraly | Mikael Pyyhtia |
| Zach Werenski | Damon Severson |
| Jake Christiansen | Ivan Provorov |
| Jack Johnson | Jordan Harris |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Daniil Tarasov |
New Jersey Devils
| Timo Meier | Nico Hischier | Dawson Mercer |
| Ondrej Palat | Jack Hughes | Jesper Bratt |
| Paul Cotter | Erik Haula | Stefan Noesen |
| Tomas Tatar | Curtis Lazar | Nathan Bastian |
| Brenden Dillon | Dougie Hamilton |
| Luke Hughes | Brett Pesce |
| Jonas Siegenthaler | Johnathan Kovacevic |
| Jacob Markstrom |
| Isaac Poulter |