Part two of two in this home and home series between Metropolitan Division teams concludes tonight in the Nationwide Arena. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the New Jersey Devils in the return of defenseman Zach Werenski, and the silver stick ceremony of veteran Jakub Voracek.
The Jackets are in the news regarding the rumor mill and the game notes, with Frank Severalli reporting that forwards Jack Roslovic and Max Domi are being shopped. That excludes the knowledge of Joonas Korpisalo and Gregory Hoffman as options per Aaron Portzline of the Athletic. It will be a busy time ahead. Additionally, Jeff Svadoba of the NHL.com announced that Werenski has been taken off the COVID protocol; however, Alexandre Texier has been placed on the protocol.
In Newark, Voracek played his 1,0000th career NHL game, only suiting up for the Jackets and Flyers in his entire career. It was also defenseman Jake Christainsen’s first career game.
As for the Devils, Jesper Bratt is a game time decision pending his health illness. It is also a second of two battles between Jesper and Adam Boqvist, the Metro Bro rivalry.
After last contest against each other, New Jersey jumped Philly and Columbus in the standings, with Jersey now being 5th in the Division, and Columbus being 7th.
The goaltending battle is a repeat of Blackwood and Korpisalo, with my players to Watch being the two brothers tonight in the third matchup of 4 on the season.
Projected Lineups
Thomas Tatar—Jack Hughes—Jesper Bratt
Jimmy Vessey—Nico Hischer—Janne Kuokkanen
Nolan Foote— Dawson Mercer—AJ Greer
Jesper Boqvist—Michael McLeod—Marian Studenic
Jonas Siegenthaler—Damon Severson
Ryan Graves—PK Subban
Ty Smith—Christian Jaros
Mackenzie Blackwood
Akira Schmid
Scratched—Jon Gilles, Kevin Bahl
Injured— Miles Wood, Jonathan Bernier, Andreas Johnsson, Dougie Hamilton, Pavel Zacha, Yegor Sharagnovich, Nathan Bastian, Mason Geersteen,,
Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrik Laine—Boone Jenner—Gustav Nyquist
Jakub Voracek—Jack Roslovic—Oliver Bjorkstrand
Yegor Chinakov—Cole Sillinger—Max Domi
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Yegor Chinakov
Zach Werenski—Jake Bean
Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke
Dean Kukan—Adam Boqvist
Joonas Korpisalo
Jean-Francois Berube
Scratched— Gabriel Carlsson,, Gregory Hoffman, Scott Harrington
Injured— Gavin Bayreuther, Nathan Gerbe, Elvis Merzlikins, Daniil Tarasov, Alexandre Texier, Justin Danforth
Taxi Squad— Liam Foudy, Jake Christiansen
Players to Watch:
New Jersey— Jesper Boqvist— with 3 points in 13 games, the second rounder has been in the lineup consistently due to the injuries and illnesses on the team, but has been relatively quiet. Playing against family can bring the best out of players.
Columbus— Adam Boqvist — With the return of Werenski, the younger Brother of the two slides back to the bottom pair, and lost his 3 game point streak in Newark on Thursday. Maybe a return home helps motivate the youngster.
Thoughts? More to come…
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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