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BREAKING — THUMBS & Game 31 v Dallas |
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UPDATED 2:20pm
Boone Jenner has been diagnosed with a broken thumb which will require surgery. He will be out until middle or end of January 2023. He suffered the injury in the first game of the road trip against Florida; however, he pushed through the trip and even scored a powerplay goal against Boston. Best of luck in his recovery.
Adam Boqvist has returned to full time practice. He has been out since the end of October with a broke ankle.
Cole Sillinger is out day to day with an undisclosed injury suffered against Boston.
Daniil Tarasov will get the start.
Josh Dunne has been recalled.
Carson Meyer and Liam Foudy slide in; meanwhile, Kent Johnson is on the first line.
Game Notes
The Columbus Blue Jackets return home for a holiday matchup with the Dallas Stars for the first time in the 22-23 season.
This is the Stars’ and Jackets’ first meeting of the season, last playing in the 2021-22 season.
Dallas has done a magnificent job of overturning their roster to be a formidable and young core since their 2020 Cup Finals loss to Tampa Bay. With the success of the 2017 draft they have developed their core from one of the weaker drafts of the decade — defenseman Miro Heskianen, goaltender Jake Otteinger, and forward Jason Robertson.
This past summer, Jim Nill and his company made some significantly bold and questionable moves. A number of their veterans departed home to Europe, including Alexander Radulov, Michael Raffl, and Alexi Lipanov. Veteran journeyman Andrej Sekera retired as a Dallas Star. John Klingberg moved to Anahiem for his big payday. Vladislav Namestinkov headed back to Tampa Bay.
Dallas added forward Mason Marchment via free agency, along with defenders Will Butcher and Colin Miller. Tweener Riley Barber also joined their successful Texas team. The boldest move was acquiring defenseman Nils Lundkvist from the New York Rangers for an unprotected 2023 1st round draft selection. Given the strength of the draft, lack of games played by Lundkvist, and early demand of a trade request due to lack of ice time in NY, this was a bizarre transaction just short of training camp.
The progression of the Stars’ youthful and energetic core has also rebounded the highest paying veterans in the locker room - Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.
Seguin has 23 points in 32 games, and is closing on passing his worst statistical season in his Dallas career.
Benn has 29 points in 32 games this season, and is looking to smash his 46 in 82 last season.
The Stars have a healthy lineup, and are keeping their best players together.
Columbus is rotating through their bottom six and figuring out which goaltender will become the most consistent, since nobody wants the crease.
Projected Lineups
Dallas Stars
Jason Robertson—Roope Hintz—Joe Pavelski
Denis Gurainov—Radek Faksa—Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn—Wyatt Johnston—Mason Marchment
Joel Kiviranta—Luke Glendenning—Ty Dellandra
Miro Heskianen—Nils Lundkvist
Ryan Suter—Colin MIller
Esa Lindell—Jani Hakanpaa
Jake Otteinger
Scott Wedgewood
Scratched — Riley Tufte, Joel Hanley
Injured — Nick Caamano
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau—Kent Johsnon—Gustav Nyquist
Yegor Chinakov—Jack Roslovic—Patrik Laine
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Kirill Marchenko
Carson Meyer—Liam Foudy—Mathieu Olivier
Vladislav Gavrikov—Marcus Bjork
Tim Breni—Erik Gudbranson
Jake Christiansen—Andrew Peeke
Daniil Tarasov
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratched — Josh Dunne, Gavin Bayreuther
Injured — Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, Jake Bean, Adam Boqvist, Joonas Korpisalo, Nick Blankenburg, Justin Danforth, Nick Blankenburg, Cole Sillinger, Boone Jenner
Players to Watch
Dallas — Jason Robertson — the franchise. Leading in goals, assists, and points for Dallas, he is in the top five for league scoring for goals and points.
Columbus — Kent Johnson — only having one assist in his last 5 games, KJ has had a quite first full NHL season with 14 points in 27 games. Slim pickings in Columbus, but I would call this a success story.
Final Score Prediction
Dallas — 5
Columbus — 1
Thoughts?
With the Flyers’ game tomorrow, I will be doing a double recap midweek.
More to come…
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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