Game #33 Preview: Struggling Blue Jackets Host Streaking Golden Knights
Here’s what you need to know.
Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets
Monday, December 17, 2018 - 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio - Radio: 97.1 WBNS FM
Opponent’s Blog: Knights on Ice
Vegas Golden Knights, 19-14-2, 40 points, 3rd Pacific, 6th West
@
Columbus Blue Jackets, 17-12-3, 37 points, 2nd Metro, 7th East
Looking to string together a winning streak on the longest home stand of the season on Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets ran into a smoking hot John Gibson as the team fell in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks despite out-everything-ing the Ducks everywhere but the scoreboard. Tonight, the Jackets look to get back on the winning train as they host the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights come in to town on a hot streak, finally over their Stanley Cup Finals hangover and putting things together.
Vegas comes into Columbus after a Sunday matinee that saw the Knights take down the New York Rangers in overtime. Vegas is on the second game of a back to back, though with extra rest because the game was played at 12:30 on the east coast. Marc-Andre Fleury played yesterday, his 13th straight start for Vegas, so look for Malcolm Subban to get the start in net for the Golden Knights.
Player to Watch
William Karlsson
Alexander Wennberg’s best friend is back in town for the second time since he was chosen in the expansion draft that brought the Golden Knights into the league. Karlsson may not be putting up the goal totals he did last season, but he still leads the Knights in goals and is tied for the team lead in assists. He and his fellow first liners for the Knights remain extremely dangerous,
Jackets Notes
Columbus has just three points on this homestand with two games remaining ... The Blue Jackets will have a morning skate today in advance of the game tonight ... the Blue Jackets are 8-8-1 at home this season ... Torts has lamented a lack of physical play for the CBJ of late and is working on making that a focus for the team
The Other Bench
Marc-Andre Fleury tied Tony Esposito for the ninth most wins in league history with his win yesterday ... Paul Stastny made his debut for Vegas Friday night and got his first points yesterday, notching a goal and an assist ... the Knights are on a four game point streak
Season Series
Stats
| Vegas | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.00 (17) | GPG | 3.34 (8) |
| 2.85 (12) | GAPG | 3.25 (22) |
| 20.5% (15) | PP% | 15.4% (24) |
| 83.2% (6) | PK% | 79.6% (15) |
| 54.26% (4) | EV Corsi % | 49.52% (20) |
| 0.977 (29) | EV PDO | 1.001 (17) |
| William Karlsson, 13 | G Leader | Cam Atkinson, 19 |
| Reilly Smith, 17 | A Leader | Artemi Panarin, 25 |
| William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, 26 | P Leader | Cam Atkinson and Artemi Panarin, 34 |
| Ryan Reaves, 43 | PIM Leader | Pierre-Luc Dubois, 38 |
| 9-11-1 | Home / Road | 8-7-2 |
| 8-1-1 | Last 10 | 4-5-1 |
Projected Lineups
| Artemi Panarin | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Cam Atkinson |
| Nick Foligno | Boone Jenner | Josh Anderson |
| Lukas Sedlak | Alexander Wennberg | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| Riley Nash | Brandon Dubinsky | Markus Hannikainen |
| Ryan Murray | Seth Jones |
| Markus Nutivaara | David Savard |
| Zach Werenski | Scott Harrington |
| Sergei Bobrovsky |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Jonathan Marchessault | William Karlsson | Reilly Smith |
| Max Pacioretty | Paul Stastny | Alex Tuch |
| Tomas Nosek | Cody Eakin | Ryan Carpenter |
| Will Carrier | Pierre-Edouard Bellemare | Ryan Reaves |
| Brayden McNabb | Nate Schmidt |
| Shea Theodore | Deryk Engelland |
| Nick Holden | Colin Miller |
| Malcolm Subban |
| Marc-Andre Fleury |