Game #8 Preview: Blue Jackets Look to Make Noise Against Visiting Coyotes

Tuesday, October 23, 2018 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; Radio: 102.5 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Five For Howling

Arizona Coyotes (2-5-0, 4 points, 8th Pacific, 15th West)

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets (4-3-0, 8 points, t-2nd Metro, t-8th East)

The Blue Jackets had plenty of opportunities against the Blackhawks last Saturday night, but after a 4-1 loss, they look to rebound and pick up win No. 5 on the season. Meanwhile, Arizona makes their return to Nationwide Arena, coming off a 5-3 loss to the Jets on Saturday. Looking up from the Western Conference basement, Arizona has just two wins in their seven games.

Player to Watch

Nick Foligno

Captain Nick Foligno has gotten off to a nice start with five points (three goals, two assists). He leads Columbus in shooting percentage (21.4%) and is among the forward leaders in average ice-time (18:21). But he is among the bottom of the spectrum in terms of CF% on the team and is last among 5-on-5 situations (42.3%). Against Arizona in his career, Foligno has played in 17 games, and has two goals, seven assists.

Jackets Notes

Seth Jones makes his season debut tonight and he will slide back into the No. 1 paring alongside Zach Werenski … Jones has been wearing a brace for the first time in his career as he recovered from a grade 2 MCL tear … In Monday’s practice, he ran the point on the second power play unit … Ryan Murray and Markus Nutivaara are expected to form the second pairing, leaving David Savard to slide into the third pairing … Among those who could emerge alongside Savard include Dean Kukan (12:03 average ice time), Scott Harrington (11:52), Adam Clendening (10:39) and Gabriel Carlsson (9:21) … The added bonus of Jones should help the Jackets improve on their 3.71 GA/GP (27th in the NHL) … Boone Jenner will man the center position again tonight after playing 15:58 from the spot in Saturday’s loss to the Blackhawks.

The Other Bench

The Coyotes are 2-5-0 and three of those losses have been shutouts, including the first two games of the season. … 20-year-old center Clayton Keller is among the few bright spots to focus on in the desert, and another young scoring phenom across the NHL landscape. … Among the Calder finalists last season, Keller appeared in all 82 games, putting up 65 points (23-42). So far this season he has three goals, two assists. … Alex Galchenyuk, acquired in a trade from the Canadiens over the summer for Max Domi, is expected to suit up for the first time as a Coyote after missing time with a knee injury.

Season Series

10/23/18 AZ @ CBJ
2/7/19 CBJ @ AZ

Stats

Projected Lineups