After a few weeks of players going in and out of the lineup, the Blue Jackets are largely whole at the moment.
Justin Danforth and Daniil Tarasov remain on injured reserve and Jakub Voracek entered COVID protocols Thursday, but things are a lot better than a few weeks ago when the team was scrambling at times to fill a full lineup.
But that doesn’t mean everything is totally back to normal. Players who have missed time because of either injuries or protocols are still shaking off the rust and working their way back to full strength in the eyes of head coach Brad Larsen.
“The league doesn’t stop for anybody,” Larsen said. “Games are being played and you are not. If you train hard and you put the work in the gym and on the ice, it allows you to hopefully catch up sooner because there’s a timing element of the games and just feeling the pressure.
“And quite honestly, people don’t talk about it much, but the mental engagement in a game that you don’t have and then you start plugging in there, it taxes your body mentally, physically. That’s another thing you have to overcome and readjust and recuperate from, so yeah, I think there’s a little bit of that settle in period.”
But one thing that is for sure is the Jackets will have to be ready to go tonight against a Carolina team that is in the top 10 in the league in every major statistical category and leads the league in goal differential. It’s also a squad that is 2-0 against Columbus this year, including scoring seven straight unanswered goals in a New Year’s Day win.
“I don’t think you shy away from it,” Larsen said. “We know what’s in front of us. They’re a top-three team in the league. They’re talented. They’re deep. They should get your focus and attention right away. Sometimes these games are good for you as far as grabbing your attention and understanding what is in front of you.”
A reminder to CBJ fans — tonight’s game will be shown on ESPN+ and Hulu, not the usual Bally Sports Ohio. For more info, click here.
3 Keys to the Game
Handle the Pressure: Carolina’s game is to aggressively come at teams, and it’s something that hemmed the Jackets in during the last meeting. The good news — if you can beat the pressure, there will be scoring chances up the ice.
Elvis is back: CBJ goalie Elvis Merzlikins makes his first start in two weeks and will likely raring to go after a tough relief showing against the Canes on New Year’s Day.
Special teams: We always say it, but this can be a difference maker in games. Carolina is one of the best teams in the league in this realm but sometimes against the best teams, stealing a goal or two on the power play can equal a win.
Notable
The NHL will announce the All-Star teams Thursday night on SportsCenter at 6 p.m. … Gustav Nyquist has a 4-4-8 line in the last seven games and three multipoint contests in the last five. … His shorthanded goal Tuesday was his third of the season, tied with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov for first in the NHL. … CBJ captain Boone Jenner has goals in two straight games. … With seven goals, Adam Boqvist is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen in tallies, and he has a 6-7-13 line in his last 14 games. … Max Domi is two goals from 100 and seven assists from 200 in his NHL career. … The Blue Jackets have trailed in 10 of their 16 wins this year and have an NHL-best five wins when trailing after two periods. … Columbus was 3-3-2 against Carolina a season ago but is 0-2 this year, losing 5-1 on Oct. 23 and 7-4 on New Year’s Day. … The Jackets are 3-1-1 in their last five in PNC Arena.
Projected Lineup
(Subject to change)
Patrik Laine – Boone Jenner – Gustav Nyquist
Max Domi – Cole Sillinger – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Alexandre Texier – Jack Roslovic – Emil Bemstrom
Eric Robinson – Sean Kuraly – Yegor Chinakhov
Zach Werenski – Adam Boqvist
Vladislav Gavrikov – Andrew Peeke
Jake Bean – Dean Kukan
Elvis Merzlikins (confirmed starter)
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratches: Gavin Bayreuther, Gabriel Carlsson
Injured Reserve: Justin Danforth (left knee sprain; six weeks as of Dec. 31); Daniil Tarasov (lower body; out indefinitely as of Jan. 4)
Taxi squad: Liam Foudy, Jean-Francois Berube
COVID protocols: Jakub Voracek
Roster Report: Texier has been activated from COVID protocols and was set to travel to Raleigh today; he could go in for Voracek. Foudy did take part in morning skate and also could be activated to join the active roster, but head coach Brad Larsen was unsure how the lineup would shake out at his pregame availability.
This Day in CBJ History
Jan. 13, 1997: Columbus Hockey Limited, a partnership formed by five investors interested in attracting a National Hockey League expansion team to the city, made a formal presentation to the NHL in New York.
Jan. 13, 2019: Zach Werenski played his 200th career game against the New York Rangers.