BREAKING - 15:55h

The Columbus Blue Jackets have confirmed that defenseman Tim Breni will make his NHL debut alongside Kirill Marchenko against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will be paired with Erik Gudbranson. Jake Christiansen will be scratched.

More preview below:

For the second time this season, the divisional rivals clash between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Their first meeting was on October 22, in game number 6 of the season. That’s where the game notes are.

With the Penguins, defenseman Kristopher Letang suffered a stroke on Monday, November 28. He is hopeful to return to the ice, and the team will not rush him back. I just hope he is healthy, an event like that, he considers his life outside of hockey. He is already skating, but isn’t expected to play tonight.

The Blue Jackets are in their first night of a back to back with travel. Yesterday was a crazy hockey news day in Columbus, given the Marchenko announcement; Elvis start; and Voracek concussion announcements.

Projected Lineups


Pittsburgh Penguins

Jake Guentzel—Sidney Crosby—Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker—Evgeni Malkin—Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn—Jeff Carter—Kasperi Kapanen
Danton Heinen—Teddy Bleuger—Josh Archibald

Marcus Petterson—Jeff Petry
Brian Dumoulin—Jan Rutta
Pierre-Oliver Joseph—Chad Ruhwedel

Tristan Jarry
Casey DeSmith

Injured — Kris Letang, Ryan Phoeling


Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Patrik Laine
Gustav Nyquist—Jack Roslovic—Kent Johnson
Yegor Chinakov—Cole Sillinger—Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Carson Meyer

Vladislav Gavrikov—Marcus Bjork
Tim Breni—Erik Gudbranson
Gavin Bayreuther—Andrew Peeke

Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo

Scratched — Liam Foudy, Mathieu Oliver, Jake Christainsen
Injured — Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, Adam Boqvist, Jake Bean, Nick Blankenburg, Justin Danforth


Players to Watch

Pittsburgh — Sidney Crosby — obvious choice. Elite season on a down team.

Columbus — Kirill Marchenko — NHL debut. Fellow Russian linemate in Yegor Chinakov with him. Russian Gavrikov as the top guy. He has got this night to make a statement.

Final Score Prediction

PIT - 2
CBJ - 1

More to come…

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