Game #5 Preview/Gamethread: Blue Jackets get Wild in Minnesota

Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 8:00 PM ET
Xcel Energy Center – Saint Paul, Minnesota
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Wild For Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-2-0, 4 points, 7th Metro, 12th East

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Minnesota Wild, 2-2-0, 4 points, 3rd Central, 7th West

The Jackets are back at .500 and face their first road test of the season against the Wild tonight. Once again, Columbus has the chance to be over .500 for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Minnesota is a good team that Columbus has had a hard time beating in recent history. In their last seven meetings, the Jackets have only won once.

Player to Watch

David Jiricek

The 19-year-old led the Jackets’ defenseman last night in several categories. At 5v5, he had a CF% of 64.29 and an xGF% of 62.44, but perhaps most impressive was that the team won scoring chances 8-3 while he was on the ice. Provorov-Jiricek was the best pair for the second straight game and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With Werenski being injured and seemingly still coming back up to speed from missing most of last season with a shoulder injury, having another pair that can play #1 minutes is invaluable.

Jackets Notes

Laine did not travel with the team after taking a dirty hit to the head by Rasmus Andersson just before the final buzzer in last night’s game … The lineup below is a complete guess. Without Laine, there could be some significant shuffling … Expect Elvis to get the start tonight after taking one more game off after having the flu … Dumais returned to Halifax last night and made sure everyone knew about it. He ended the game with a hat trick and two primary assists … In other prospect news, Jackets’ 2023 seventh-round pick Oiva Keskinen became the first rookie in 16 years to tally 4 assists in one game in Finland’s Liiga.

Season Series

10/21/23 CBJ @ MIN
01/06/23 MIN @ CBJ

Stats

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Minnesota Wild