Friday, October 4, 2024 – 7:00 PM EDT
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Streaming: BlueJackets.com; Radio: 97.1 FM
The last preseason game is upon us, and we are only six days away from the first regular season game. Tonight will be the opposite of last night. The Jackets are taking a mixed lineup to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins’ NHL squad. Hopefully, the Jackets can pull off a revenge upset.
There were several pieces of bad news today. The injury bug has already hit the Blue Jackets, and the puck hasn’t even dropped in the regular season yet.
Losing Voronkov alone is a huge loss, but also losing Jenner would be disastrous for a team that already had an uphill climb to avoid being a bottom dweller this season.
For the non-NHL forwards on the ice tonight, an opportunity that wasn’t there this morning is now ready for the taking. One or two forward spots just opened up, and guys like Malatesta, Pyyhtia, TFW, and Del Bel Belluz have one game to prove they deserve a roster spot.
On defense, Christiansen, Harris, Jiricek, and Mateychuk are all presumably fighting for NHL jobs.