|
CBJ V LEAFS! ESPN/HULU Game! Domi and Korpisalo Showcasing |
|
|
|
|
|
The Blue Jackets are on a three game point streak, and look to continue adding to it with the Leafs arrival in town. This game will be on ESPN+ and HULU. Going with adding, the Jackets added Rick Nash’s jersey to the rafters, as no player in Columbus can ever wear the number 61 on a jersey. Adding to that, Columbus has signed defenseman Billy Sweezey to a two year, two way contact. The 26 year old has spent his season with Cleveland. Finally, Jake Bean and Joonas Korpisalo are being added back to the lineup in time to play against the Leafs. What a busy time in Columbus indeed.
The Leafs are coming in with shaky goaltending that continues to be the muse of the Toronto fanbase, questioning what they need to win a round with Jack Campbell’s struggles. Domi and Korpisalo are right there, but after the Foligno deal, I don’t expect Leaf’s general manager Kyle Dubas to get walked on another deal with Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen ever again. The Maple Leafs are still are a top team in the league, with maybe the most exiciting offensive group in their history. They’re also coming off a celebration of their own, being Wayne Simmonds’ 1,000th NHL career game. His role has changed, but his impact his not. Becoming the 5th African North American born player to ever play 1,000 games is a major accomplishment, and I’m rooting for many more.
The rumors in Columbus have gone quiet as we are down to 14 days remaining until the trade deadline, where the Leafs are expected to buy big this year from my sources. Fun times ahead!
As for the lineups tonight, Columbus and Toronto are both missing key players with injury. Adam Boqvist is on the IR for the Union Blue; Jake Muzzin is on LTIR for the Blue and White.
Projected Lineups
Toronto Maple Leafs
Michael Bunting—Auston Matthews—Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson—John Tavares—William Nylander
Ilya Mikhayev—David Kampf—Pierre Engvall
Alex Kerfoot—Jason Spezza—Wayne Simmonds
Morgan Rielly—Timmothy Lilgjren
Travis Dermott—Ilya Lybushukin
TJ Brodie—Justin Holl
Petr Mrazek
Jack Campbell
Scratched— Kyle Clifford, Mac Hollowell
Injured — Jake Muzzin, Ondrej Kase, Rasmus Sandin
Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrik Laine—Boone Jenner—Gustav Nyquist
Brendan Gaunce—Cole Sillinger—Yegor Chinakov
Max Domi—Sean Kuraly—Justin Danforth
Jakub Voracek—Jack Roslovic—Oliver Bjorkstrand
Zach Werenski—Andrew Peeke
Vladislav Gavrikov—Dean Kukan
Jake Bean—Gabriel Carlsson
Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched— Emil Bemstrom, Gavin Bayreuther
Injured— Nathan Gerbe, Eric Robinson, Alexandre Texier, Daniil Tarasov,
Players to Watch
Toronto — Mitch Marner— 12 points in his last 5 games. He has been sneaky dominant lately.
Columbus— Patrik Laine— 15 goals in his last 15 games. Will it be 16 in 16??
CBJ Rumor Cannon
F Patrik Laine (RFA) [Cap Hit $7.5M] ANA, FLA, LA, NYI
G Joonas Korpisalo (UFA) [Cap Hit: $2.8M] COL, EDM, NJD, VGK
Reported asking price: 2nd and 3rd round picks
F Max Domi (UFA) [Cap Hit: $5.3M] COL, NYR, OTT, PIT, TOR,
F Kevin Stenlund (RFA) [Cap Hit: $1.05M] EDM
F Jack Roslovic (RFA) [Cap Hit: $1,838,662]
Interested In:
F Brendan Gallagher (MTL)
D Jacob Chychrun (ARI)
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»