To say it’s been a crazy couple of weeks off the ice would be a bit of an understatement. Hopefully, some actual hockey will distract fans from a week that’s further exposed a desultory front office.
The Devils are in town for one last home game before the Jackets have a five-game road trip.
Player to Watch
Boone Jenner
The captain is back after missing time with a fractured jaw. In a move that angered many fans, Jenner will be replacing Fantilli at center.
His diet was less than desirable during the healing process (taco smoothies, anyone?), and hopefully, he’s feeling much better.
Jackets Notes
The Elvis Merzlikins saga continues. Here’s what’s happened over the last 24 hours:
- JD and Jarmo both stated to the media that Elvis did not request a trade.
- Spencer Martin was put on waivers.
- JD said he reached out to Elvis’ agent, and things are now “calmed down.” He also said the team is not shopping the goaltender.
Was Jarmo forced to smooth the relationship with Elvis? How is Elvis going to react to the changes? There are still more questions than answers.
In other news:
Merzlikins will make his second straight start tonight … Bemstrom is a healthy scratch to make room for Jenner … Werenski, Laine, and Blankenburg all skated with the team this morning … Jiricek was sent to Cleveland, but it sounds like he’ll be recalled before the team leaves for their trip out west. This is the second time Jiricek has been sent to Cleveland since Jarmo told him to get a place in Columbus. That said, it’s probably not a bad thing for him to play games with a good Cleveland team.
The Other Bench
The Devils currently sit in seventh place in the Metro, but they are only six points from third in the division and four points from a wild card spot … Jack Hughes is out and is listed as week-to-week as the Devils push for that playoff spot.
Season Series
11/24/23 CBJ 2 @ NJD 1
12/16/23 NJD 6 @ CBJ 3
12/27/23 CBJ 3 @ NJD 4 OT
01/19/24 NJD @ CBJ
Stats
| New Jersey | Columbus | |
| 3.43 (7) | GPG | 3.00 (20) |
| 3.48 (28) | GAPG | 3.73 (31) |
| 28.3 (3) | PP% | 15.2 (25) |
| 77.3 (23) | PK% | 79.2 (18) |
| 54.2 (5) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 47.2 (25) |
| 52.8 (5) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 47.5 (25) |
| 8.9 (11) | 5v5 Shooting % | 9.8 (5) |
| 90.1 (31) | 5v5 Save % | 90.6 (25) |
| Bratt, Toffoli, 16 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 14 |
| Bratt, J. Hughes, 30 | A Leader | Zach Werenski, 24 |
| Jasper Bratt, 46 | P Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 28 |
| Brendan Smith, 47 | PIM Leader | Erik Gudbranson, 51 |
| 13-7-1 | Home/Road | 9-12-4 |
| 5-4-1 | Last 10 | 3-4-3 |
Projected Lines
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Johnny Gaudreau | Cole Sillinger | Yegor Chinakhov |
| Adam Fantilli | Boone Jenner | Jack Roslovic |
| Kent Johnson | Dmitri Voronkov | Kirill Marchenko |
| Alexandre Texier | Sean Kuraly | Justin Danforth |
| Damon Severson | Adam Boqvist |
| Ivan Provorov | Andrew Peeke |
| Jake Bean | Erik Gudbranson |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Daniil Tarasov |
New Jersey Devils
| Tyler Toffoli | Nico Hischier | Jesper Bratt |
| Timo Meier | Michael McLeod | Dawson Mercer |
| Erik Haula | Curtis Lazar | Nathan Bastian |
| Maxwell Willman | Chris Tierney | Alexander Holtz |
| John Marino | Simon Nemec |
| Luke Hughes | Colin Miller |
| Kevin Bahl | Cal Foote |
| Vitek Vanecek |
| Nico Daws |