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Preseason Game 3 Preview/Open Thread: Blue Jackets hope to leave St. Louis singing Blues

Posted on by William Chase

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: BlueJackets.com; Radio: 97.1 FM and streaming on the Blue Jackets app
Opponent’s Blog: St. Louis Game Time

Columbus plays their third game in as many nights tonight against the St. Louis Blues. Columbus defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on Monday night in Pittsburgh and led the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in the third period Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena before surrendering four straight goals and losing in shootout 5-4.

Jet Greaves gave up the final four goals after taking over for Elvis Merzlikins. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice while Tyler Angle had two assists. Jake Bean scored and had two assists, Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and assist, and Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, and Kevin Stenlund each had one assist.

Player(s) To Watch

Jakub Voráček will be getting his first game action tonight and that means we might be getting a look at the Patrik Laine – Cole Sillinger – Voráček line! Very exciting to watch and a great opportunity for Sillinger to prove himself early. Regardless of who he’s lined up with.

Jackets Notes

I know it felt like typical Jackets to see them blow a 4-1 meaningless preseason game, and to the Sabres of all teams. But fortunately, it’s just preseason. Still, it’s a reminder of what’s sure to be a tough season in some respects and these types of things might happen. Hopefully not too often, with Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo in the net, and a new defensive unit in front looking to solidify themselves.

As of this morning here’s a look at the potential lines.

The Other Bench

St. Louis coms in 2-0 on the preseason after a Saturday win, 6-2, over the Minnesota Wild and 2-1 over the Dallas Stars in overtime Monday. Similar to the Sabres and Jack Eichel offseason drama, there were rumblings of an unhappy Vladimir Tarasenko and just like the Eichel situation, Tarasenko was not traded but says he’s 100% ready to go with the Blues.

Tarasenko hasn’t played yet this preseason. Meanwhile, for the rest of the club, they were busy in the offseason adding a familiar face in Brandon Saad to a five-year $22.5 million deal, and agreeing to a four-year $32 million deal with Pavel Buchnevich after acquiring him as part of a trade with the New York Rangers.

Mike Hoffman left for the Montreal Canadiens ($13.5 million) and Jayden Schwartz signed with the Seattle Kraken for five years at $27.5 million. Vince Dunn was taken by the Kraken in the Expansion Draft and signed for two years, $8 million.

Jordan Binnington is the main guy between the pipes once again in 2021-22 and he’s coming off an ok year (18-14-8, .910 SV%, 2.65 GAA in regular season) with Ville Husso as his backup (9-6-1, .893, 3.21).

Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets

Forwards

15 Gregory Hofmann
17 Justin Danforth
19 Liam Foudy
21 Josh Dunne
23 Brendan Gaunce
29 Patrik Laine
34 Cole Sillinger
38 Boone Jenner
52 Emil Bemstrom
59 Yegor Chinakhov
65 Tristan Mullin
93 Jakub Voráček

Defensemen

4 Scott Harrington
8 Zach Werenski
26 Thomas Schemitsch
27 Adam Boqvist
46 Dean Kukan
53 Gabriel Carlsson

Goaltenders

30 Jean-François Bérubé
40 Daniil Tarasov

St. Louis Blues

Talking Points