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CBJ G18– Vancouver Canucks |
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As the game is in progress here the Blue Jackets are in a Black Friday battle with the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are in full downward spiral with speculation of full sale changes from player personnel to coaching staff and management. They are on a two game losing streak, and sinking near Arizona to the bottom of the league in the standings.
Over the past week, speculation from insiders has come out about the future of captain Bo Horvat; alternate captain JT Miller; winger Brock Boeser; head coach Travis Green; and general manager Jim Benning. There seems to be division on the direction, and inconsistency on the ice since their series of offseason moves. They added youth and skill in wingers Vasily Podkolzin, Connor Garland, and Jason Dickinson but veteran contracts in Luke Schenn, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jaroslav Halak, Justin Dowling, and Alex Chassion.
Projected Lineups
Vancouver Canucks
Tanner Pearson—Bo Horvat—Connor Garland
Nils Hoglander—JT Miller—Brock Boeser
Justin Dowling—Elias Petterson—Vasily Podkolzin
Tyler Motte—Jason Dickinson—Alex Chassion
Oliver Ekman-Larsson—Tyler Myers
Quinn Hughes—Tucker Poolman
Kyle Burroughs—Luke Schenn
Thatcher Demko
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched— Juho Lamikko, Brad Hunt
Injured— Brandon Sutter, Matthew Highmore, Brady Keeper, Michael Ferland
Columbus Blue Jackets
Gustav Nyquist—Boone Jenner—Oliver Bjorkstrand
Yegor Chinakov—Cole Sillinger—Jakub Voracek
Gregory Hoffman—Jack Roslovic—Max Domi
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Alexandre Texier
Zach Werenski—Jake Bean
Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther—Adam Boqvist
Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched— Justin Danforth, Gabriel Carlsson, Scott Harrington
Injured— Nathan Gerbe, Dean Kukan, Emil Bemstrom, Patrik Laine
Gustav Nyquist has scored his fourth of the season, also being his first short handed goal in an unassisted effort.
Updated 8:30pm
Canucks rookie Vasily Podkolzin popped his fourth of his young career with the help of veteran add Justin Dowling.
Adam Boqvist has been on fire since his return, adding his second of the season. Rookie Cole Sillinger and veteran defender Gavin Bayreuther got the assists.
Updated 2:30am
FINAL SCORE — CBJ 4, VAN 2
The former Blue Jacket winger Tyler Motte got his first goal of the season against Elvis. Quinn Hughes and Alex Chassion got the helpers on the tying goal.
Jack Roslovic got the game winner with his third of the season, and all three goals for the Columbus native came in the last three games. Jakub Voracek keeps his hot start rolling with another assist with 16 in 18 games in his return; Vladislav Gavrikov got the secondary.
Max Domi doubled the lead with his third of the season on the empty net; Gus Nyquist and Vladislav Gavrikov got the apples.
Elvis Merzlikins was stellar once again, stopping 39 of 41 shots faced for a 0.951 save percentage; Thatcher Demko stopped 17 of 20 for a 0.850 save percentage.
As I hinted in Carol Schram’s blog last night in her preview for the game, Connor Garland was my player to watch after the blockbuster move between Arizona and Vancouver, but for his skill set and grit around the net. He managed to get 10% of the Canucks shots on Merzlikins in 17 minutes of time on ice. The guy can shoot from anywhere, and create chances. Even though the Canucks are in a slide, he is visible and is doing what he can.
For Columbus, my player to watch tonight was Jack Roslovic as his line has been rolling lately. Even though he was quiet against his former team, he had another goal tonight after two against Buffalo earlier this week. His third came tonight of the season so far, in less ice time than last game. He did better in the faceoff dot, improving to 42% after 30% last game. Still a tough look on a center losing draws, but he is regaining his confidence after a slow start to the season.
CBJ Three Stars of the Game
1. Jack Roslovic— GWG (3)
2. Elvis Merzlikins— W, 39SV, 95.1 SV%
3. Gustav Nyquist— SHG (4), asssit (5)
Thoughts on the game and the directions of both teams ?
Next game for Columbus is at 8pm in St. Louis with the Blues
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