Thursday, February 27, 2025 – 7:00 PM EST
Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
TV: FDSNOH and FOX 28; Radio: 97.1 FM
Columbus Blue Jackets (28-22-8, 64 points, 4th Metro, 8th East)
at
Detroit Red Wings (30-22-6, 66 points, 4th Atlantic, 7th East)
The stage is set. Two teams are battling for a playoff spot. Home-and-home series. Stadium Series game in The Shoe on Saturday.
But first, the Blue Jackets and Red Wings must face off in Detroit. This is the prelude to the main event, but in the big picture, it is no less important. For the Jackets, in particular, this game could be the difference between being tied for WC1 or trailing the Wings by four points.
Player to Watch
Alex DeBrincat
The Team USA snubs have been hot post-4 Nations. Jason Robertson is 4-1-5 in 3 games, Tage Thompson is 2-1-3 in 2 games, and Alex DeBrincat is 2-2-4 in 3 games. Think these guys are mad? I would be.
DeBrincat’s streak goes back to February 1st. He’s 5-6-11 in his last 7 games.
Jackets Notes
Chinakhov was on the main ice practicing with the team on Tuesday. He wasn’t even wearing a no-contact sweater. Hopefully, his return is imminent … Cayden Lindstrom also started skating again after his nearly season-long recovery. He may not play hockey this season, but that’s a significant first step … Sean Monahan also started skating this week.
Let’s keep the playoff predictions going:
Hockeyviz: 35.4%
Dom @ the Athletic: 34%
MoneyPuck: 17.4%
Season Series
01/02/2025 DET 5 @ CBJ 4
02/27/2025 CBJ @ DET
03/01/2025 DET @ CBJ
Stats
| Detroit | Columbus | |
| 2.90 (18) | GPG | 3.29 (5) |
| 3.12 (22) | GAPG | 3.27 (26) |
| 29.2% (2) | PP% | 21.3 (17) |
| 69.6% (32) | PK% | 75.8 (24) |
| 47.9 (26) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 47.4 (29) |
| 47.0 (29) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 48.0 (25) |
| 8.1 (27) | 5v5 Shooting % | 10.3 (3) |
| 91.7 (12) | 5v5 Save % | 90.7 (22) |
| Alex DeBrincat, 26 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 23 |
| Lucas Raymond, 41 | A Leader | Zach Werenski, 44 |
| Lucas Raymond, 63 | P Leader | Zach Werenski, 62 |
| Ben Chiarot, 45 | PIM Leader | Mathieu Olivier, 99 |
| 16-12-3 | Home/Road | 9-16-4 |
| 8-1-1 | Last 10 | 5-4-1 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Dmitri Voronkov | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko |
| Boone Jenner | Cole Sillinger | Kent Johnson |
| Zach Aston-Reese | Justin Danforth | Mathieu Olivier |
| James van Riemsdyk | Sean Kuraly | Joe LaBate |
| Zach Werenski | Dante Fabbro |
| Denton Mateychuk | Ivan Provorov |
| Jake Christiansen | Damon Severson |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Daniil Tarasov |
Detroit Red Wings
| Marco Kasper | Dylan Larkin | Lucas Raymond |
| Alex DeBrincat | JT Compher | Patrik Kane |
| Elmer Soderblom | Joe Veleno | Vladimir Tarasenko |
| Jonatan Berggren | Tyler Motte | Christian Fischer |
| Ben Chiarot | Moritz Seider |
| Simon Edvinsson | Albert Johansson |
| Erik Gustafsson | Justin Holl |
| Cam Talbot |
| Alex Lyon |