Game #6 Preview/Gamethread: Jackets and Bolts face off in matinee while PLD trade talks continue

Saturday, January 23 – 2:00 EST
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio, NHL Network, ESPN+; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Raw Charge

Tampa Bay Lightning (3-0-0, 6 points, 1st Central)

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Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-2, 4 points, 6th Central)

The eyes of the hockey world will be on Columbus this afternoon, and not just because this game is on national TV in North America and on during prime time in Europe. Instead, the interest is over the ongoing drama surrounding Pierre-Luc Dubois. On Friday night, Darren Dreger was the first to report that trade talks had intensified and that the Blue Jackets had narrowed down their list of trade partners:

My sense from canvassing sources tonight, Columbus is closing in on a trade involving Pierre Luc Dubois. It’s a complicated process that could be resolved as early as tomorrow. Teams have been told they’re out. Hard to say who’s in, but it’s believed Winnipeg is among them.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 23, 2021

Later, Pierre LeBrun identified the leading contenders:

The Montreal Canadiens also remain in the mix on Pierre-Luc Dubois. Winnipeg, Anaheim, Montreal it would appear at this juncture.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 23, 2021

Per Renaud Lavoie in Montreal, the trade should be imminent. Maybe even between when I write this late Friday and it publishes Saturday morning!

Looks like Pierre-Luc Dubois played his last game with the @BlueJacketsNHL and you have to expect a trade sooner than later I’m told. Could be a question of hours. Could be tomorrow, but it’s coming.

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) January 23, 2021

Player to Watch

Max Domi

In terms of something to watch on the ice, my attention is on Domi. He was brought in to strengthen center depth and push Dubois, but now the burden falls on him to carry the load as the top center. He started slow, but has earned assists in his last two games.

Jackets Notes

The projected lineup below is a bit of a crapshoot. Friday’s practice was optional, so there were no new lines reported. Dubois did practice, but if he is not traded by game time he will be scratched while trade talks continue … One lineup change we know of for sure is that Nathan Gerbe will take the place of Emil Bemstrom. Gerbe was recalled from the taxi squad yesterday and Bemstrom was added to it. This may indicate that Bemstrom will spend time in the AHL when their season starts … Speaking of the AHL, the Cleveland Monsters released their schedule … If the goalie rotation continues apace, today’s starter will be Elvis Merzlikins. He has had a rusty start, allowing four goals per game and saving just 86.7% of shots faced. Joonas Korpisalo has a save percentage of .935, including 34 saves on 37 shots faced against the Lightning on Thursday.

The Other Bench

Former Blue Jacket and current Lightning backup goalie Curtis McElhinney is still in the COVID protocol, but in the meantime enjoy this longform article from Raw Charge from last month which talks to him about his journey through the AHL and NHL to finally lifting the Stanley Cup.

Season Series

01/21/21 TBL 3 @ CBJ 2 (OT)
01/23/21 TBL @ CBJ
03/30/21 CBJ @ TBL
04/01/21 CBJ @ TBL
04/06/21 TBL @ CBJ
04/08/21 TBL @ CBJ
04/22/21 CBJ @ TBL
04/25/21 CBJ @ TBL

Stats

Projected Lineups