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Game 45 Preview: Jackets welcome Celebrini and the Sharks

Nov 5, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) shoots the puck against San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) during overtime at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

Thursday, January 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: FDSNOH – Radio: 97.1 FM

San Jose Sharks (14-26-6, 34 points, 8th Pacific, 15th West)
at
Columbus Blue Jackets (21-17-6, 48 points, 4th Metropolitan, 8th East)

Columbus puts their (NHL leading) 5 game winning streak on the line tonight. The streak has not given them as much separation in the wild card standings as could be hoped for with Montreal and Detroit both winning 7 of their last 10. Every game is important now, but with 8 of the next 9 on the road, and considering the quality of opponent, this needs to be a win.

Player to Watch

Adam Fantilli

On to game three with no Sean Monahan and a matchup against another high end draft pick. Fantilli has been good so far between Marchenko and Voronkov, how will he fare matched up against maybe the best young player in the NHL?

Jackets Notes

Portzline today with some injury updates: Boone Jenner could be back around the Four Nations Faceoff in February, Gudbranson is targeting an April return, Monahan avoided a fracture in his wrist but swollen ligaments will have him out until at least late January, and Danforth is expected to travel with the team this weekend, boding well for a return soon.

Rumors abound that the stadium series jerseys will be announced today.

The Other Bench

The Sharks have the honor of being the fun bad team this year. Macklin Celebrini has been outstanding in his rookie season and veteran acquisitions like Walman, Wennberg, and Toffoli make them feisty most nights. The recent trade of Blackwood for Georgiev in net has led to a significant drop in their goaltending performance, however. If the Jackets draw Georgiev instead of Askarov, expect goals.

Season Series

11/5/2024 – CBJ 1 at SJS 2 (OT)
1/16/2025 – SJS at CBJ

Stats

San JoseColumbus
2.61 (28)GPG3.36 (5)
3.41 (28)GAPG3.48 (31)
18.5% (24)PP%23.9% (10)
78.6% (19)PK%73.8% (27)
44.68% (32)5v5 Shot Attempt %48.88% (19)
44.01% (32)5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt %49.33% (19)
8.24% (26)5v5 Shooting %9.99% (4)
.908 (21)5v5 Save %.901 (25)
Tyler Toffoli, 16G LeaderKirill Marchenko, 18
Jake Walman, 26A LeaderZach Werenski, 35
Mikael Granlund, 37P LeaderZach Werenski, 50
Barclay Goodrow, 36PIM LeaderMathieu Olivier, 83
6-12-5Home/Road15-5-3
3-7-0Last 108-2-0

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dmitri VoronkovAdam FantilliKirill Marchenko
James van RiemsdykLuca Del Bel BelluzKent Johnson
Zach Aston-ReeseCole SillingerMattieu Olivier
Mikael PyyhtiaSean KuralyKevin Labanc
Zach WerenskiDante Fabbro
Denton MateychukIvan Provorov
Jake ChristiansenDamon Severson
Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov

San Jose Sharks

Collin GrafMikael GranlundFabian Zetterlund
William EklundMacklin CelebriniTyler Toffoli
Luke KuninAlex WennbergWill Smith
Barclay GoodrowNico SturmTy Dellandrea
Jake WalmanCody Ceci
Mario FerraroTimothy Liljegren
Marc-Edouard VlasicJan Rutta
Alexander Georgiev
Yaroslav Askarov

Talking Points