The Columbus Blue Jackets commence their inaugural home opener of the 2023 calendar year with a date with history and remberance. This is their first matchup of four on the season with Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, who they play three times this month; two times 4 days.

First, let’s back track, as I took some time away to rest and be around family.

Congratulations are in order for Czechia as they conclude their tournament in the Works Juniors in Moncton and Halifax with a gold medal game tonight against host Canada. David Jiricek, Stanislav Svozil, and Martin Rysavy will leave with one of the two best medals in the tourney.

Vladislav Gavrikov rumors are HEATING up. Los Angeles is become the front runner; however, the organization is deciding which is more important between retention and asset management. Gavrikov is reportedly looking around $5M with term, meanwhile the asking price is a first round draft pick in the upcoming draft.

With the injuries of the offense and pending contracts, I am content with Bedard, Fantelli, or Mitchkov coming in to support.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were shut out in their first road game of the calendar year in a 4-0 shutout to the Ottawa Senators. Derrick Brassard; Tim Stuzle, Drake Batherson, and Auston Watson had the goals. Anton Forsberg had the shutout. Love seeing how former Blue Jackets dominate against the team that draft them and let them go.

Also, why is it this team weirdly goes from facing the Canadian nation capitol team to the American one, rather this quickly and consistently? I just don’t get it.

Washington is becoming the veteran team of the east, with time catching up to them extremely quickly. Injuries have kept veterans Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom out for the entire season to date. They turned their young goalie duo of Vancek and Samsonov into Kuemper and Lindgren. Solid veterans, but seems hostile. To counteract the injured offense, they sign depth in Dylan Strome, Sonny Milano, and Henrik Borgstrom. They claim Nicolas Aube-Kuebel off waivers from Toronto. John Carlson is also now out for “months” accoridng to recent injury reports. And, their AHL Hershey is the best in the league. They’re also now in playoff contention for the first time this season.

Alex Ovechkin is one of two players with 808 career goals accompanying Wayne Gretzky.

Projected Lineups

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin—Evgney Kuznetsov—Connor Sheary
Sonny Milano—Dylan Strome—Anthony Mantha
Marcus Johansson—Lars Eller—TJ Oshie
Aleksi Protas—Nic Dowd—Garnet Hathaway

Erik Gustafsson—Trevor van Reimsdyk
Dimitry Orlov—Nic Jensen
Martin Fehervary—Matt Irwin

Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren

Scratched — Nicolas Aube-Kuebel, Lucas Johansen

Injured — John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Nicklas Backstrom

Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau—Kent Johnson—Kirill Marchenko
Gustav Nyquist—Jack Roslovic—Emil Bemstrom
Liam Foudy—Cole Sillinger—Carson Meyer
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Olivier

Vladislav Gavrikov—Marcus Bjork
Tim Breni—Erik Gudbranson
Andrew Peeke—Adam Boqvist

Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo

Scratched — Daniil Tarasov, Gavin Bayreuther

Injured — Yegor Chinakov, Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski, Jake Bean, Justin Danforth, Nick Blankenburg, Jakub Voracek

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