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CBJ G47 -- Johnny Hockey Tribute Show |
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The Columbus Blue Jackets commence their Northwestern trip for the 2022-2023 with their final battle with the Calgary Flames in the 2023-2023 regular season at the Scotiabank Saddledown at 9:30pm EST on ESPN+ and Hulu.
This will also serve the Flames' faithful with their video tribute and flowers to alumni Johnny Gaudreau and Erik Gudbranson, who were both members last season.
Gaudreau, a draft pick of the organization in the 4th round (104th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entey Draft, had 609 points in 602 career games. The winger played one game in 2013-14 until his last game during the 2021-2022 second round against the Edmonton Oilers.
Gaudreau also won the Last Byng for most gentlemanly player in 2016-17; and was a seven-time NHL All Star.
The New Jersey native signed with Columbus this summer, where he is the leading point scorer, and once again an All Star. He has been one of two healthy players from the original opening night lineup; the other is Gustav Nyquist. Gaudreau has been on the first line all season, having to play with many of the top or young forwards on the roster.
Gudbranson played all of last season with the Flames, having 17 points in 78 games. Being a physical force, he round out the bottom pairing, mostly alongside Nikita Zadarov.
He signed with Columbus for the next three years after this one.
Columbus and Calgary played on December 9th from Nationwide Arena, where Gaudreau was pointless in a rare Blue Jackets regulation win this season. Laine, Robinson, and Kuraly had the goals.
Columbus last played on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks in First Responders' night sponsored by Jets Pizza, in a 5-3 win.
Calgary last played on Saturday against Tampa Bay, where there was a 6-3 win for the Flames, highlighted by a Lightning jersey thrown in Calgary and six different players scored.
The Flames currently hold onto 9th seed in the Western Conference, with the same number of points as the defending cup champions in Colorado, but have less games played.
For the lineups, the Flames are without Oliver Kylington and Brett Ritchie; no returns yet from remaining injuries on Columbus.
The Flames are liking their groups from last game; career game number two for Jakob Pelletier; the Jackets have been finding chemistry in a top line of Johnny Gaudreau with Jack Roslovic and Patrik Laine. Johnny and the Jets. Happy Anniversary to the trade by the way, that move was today.
Expect a Jacob Markstrom start in an attempt to get him back into the flow of his normal performances against Elvis Merzlikins, and to get him back to standard.
Projected Lineups
Calgary Flames
Dillon Dube--Elias Lindholm--Tyler Toffoli
Milan Lucic--Nazem Kadri--Jonathan Hubderdeau
Andrew Magipanie--Mikael Backlund--Blake Coleman
Jakob Pelletier--Trevor Lewis--Walker Duehr
Noah Hanifin--Rasmus Andersson
Mackenzie Weager--Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadarov--Michael Stone
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Scratched -- Connor Mackey, Adam Ruzukia
Injured -- Oliver Kylington, Brett Ritchie
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau--Jack Roslovic—Patrik Laine
Gustav Nyquist—Boone Jenner—Kent Johnson
Emil Bemstrom--Cole Sillinger--Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson--Sean Kuraly--Mathieu Olivier
Vladislav Gavrikov--Adam Boqvist
Tim Breni--Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg--Andrew Peeke
Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched -- Liam Foudy, Gavin Bayreuther
Injured -- Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, Jake Bean, Justin Danforth, Yegor Chinakov, Carson Meyer
Players to Watch
Calgary -- Nazem Kadri -- all Star and leading goal scorer with 18
Columbus -- Johnny Gaudreau -- it's his tribute night, most logical choice. Get ready to hear roaring either way, screams or boos. Get the popcorn ready! Time for fun.
Predicted Final Score
CBJ -- 2
CGY -- 1
I really think it comes to the goalies
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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