The Columbus Blue Jackets return to the ice in a collision with the San Jose Sharks for their first meeting of the season.

This is First Responders Night sponsored by Jets Pizza, tune on on Bally Sports Ohio or FM 97.1.

San Jose has had a year better than expected. All Star Erik Karlsson has 62 points in 46 games. Rookie GM Mike Grier has helped begin the rebuild of the Sharks, with the move of defender Brent Burns to Carolina and goalie Adin Hill to Vegas.

The Sharks acquired forward Luke Kunin by trade from Nashville; and signed veterans Oskar Lindblom; Markus Nutivaara; Scott Harrington; Nico Sturm; and Matt Benning.

San Jose claimed Michael Eyssimont off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets; and acquired forward Kyle Criscuolo from Detroit for forward James Weatherby this year.

The San Jose Sharks last played on Wednesday and defeated Dallas; Columbus is off a comeback loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

As for the lineups for the Sharks, they are without defenders Markus Nutivaara; Radim Smiek; and Nikolai Knyzhov; and forward Luke Kunin.

San Jose has multiple pending UFAs, including Nutivaara; Harrington; goalie James Reimer; and forwards Nick Bonino and Matt Nieto that could be moved at the trade deadline.

Aside the top point scorer, Karlsson; the guy to watch and could be moved is Timo Meier, who leads the Sharks in goal scoring. the Swiss forward has 26 goals and 20 assists for 46 points in 46 games. Meier has a qualifying offer at $10M for his next pro contract. He is my guy to watch before he likely is moved come March.

Columbus is rebounding and looking for their fourth consecutive victory on Saturdays; and their first home win since January 3rd.

As for the Blue Jackets' lineup, goalie Daniil Tarasov has been assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.

Since signing with Columbus, pending free agent winger Gustav Nyquist has only one assist in three games against the only team that traded for him in his career. As an expiring contract, and against a former team, Nyquist is the man to watch.

Projected Lineups

San Jose Sharks

Columbus Blue Jackets


Players to Watch

San Jose -- Timo Meier -- pending RFA at a PPG rating, 26G-20A-46P

Columbus -- Gustav Nyquist -- pending UFA at 20P in 45GP.

Predicted Final Score

CBJ - 4
SJS - 3
OT

Thoughts? More to come...

Fans -- Follow me on Twitter @ZakMacBuzz

Join the Discussion: » 1 Comments » Post New Comment

» Be the GM — Jiricek

» CBJ Hockey Fights Cancer Night Goes High Scoring

» Hit List - Johnson, Lindstrom, Jiricek, Olivier  

» CBJ G17 @ Montreal Canadiens — On the Road Again

» CBJ G16 v Pittsburgh Penguins — Crosby Watch; Letang Illness