The Columbus Blue Jackets are one game closer to wrapping up from their first home stretch of the 2024-2025 regular season. This matchup concludes their season series with the Minnesota Wild.

The Blue Jackets were welcomed by the Wild in their home opener on October 12 in what was Evason’s first game as the coach of the Jackets and first matchup against old club in their barn.

Tonight, coach Evason battles his old team at his new barn. The contest tonight is at 7pm on Bally Sports Ohio.

The injury bug continues to decimate the Blue Jackets’ roster. Kent Johnson left the second period with an upper body injury against Buffalo. It came out yesterday forward Yegor Chinakov is day to day with an upper body injury.

Chinny is a game time decision. If he is not cleared, there is discussion of 11 forwards and 7 defensemen.

Defenseman David Jiricek will finally make his season debut after serving as a healthy scratch through the first four games of the season. Overdue to get into the fold. Such a shame that new management and coaching continues to hold back the defender of the future in Columbus.

With the injury to Kent Johnson, all forward lines could be adjusted. The bottom pair is expected to be tweaked as Jiricek is in. Tarasov continues the trek forward as the starter.


Preview

Tonight is kids night, as presented by COSI. For those that don’t know, the Center of Science and Industry is science museum in Columbus. It is a hands on and interactive facility, popular by both kids and adults in the city.

Per the CBJ Promotional Calendar

Join us for the Kids Opening Night on the Front Street Plaza. All night, young members of the 5th Line can get kids-only front-rope access to players walking the Blue Carpet, experience activations on the concourse made just for them, and more!

Tech tattoos will be available for kids postgame while supplies last.

The Jackets are coming into the final game against Minnesota hurting. In the last two games, they have suffered four injuries while getting back forward Justin Danforth. The depth is being tested.

Minnesota is trending after goalie Fillip Gustavsson scored an empty net power play goal against former Jackets’ forward Alexandre Texier and the St. Louis Blues earlier this week.

The Wild are also on a four game point streak (2-0-2). The Wild are also trending up after the hard word player of the game award came out from their social media videos.

To continue the trend, the Wild Halloween party costumes have been coming out. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was McLovin. Captain defender Jared Spurgeon went as Ali G.


Keys to Victory

1. Crash the Net — this is a young goalie battle between the Sabres and Blue Jackets. Crashing the net and redirecting goals worked for Columbus late on Tuesday against Florida.

2. Pucks in Deep — the young legs on Buffalo’s defensive group will need the puck in their zone and to skate the 200 feet of the ice to help create the offense this team needs.

3. Get the Matchups — This is the second game of four on home ice. Evason has to get the correct matchups on the sheet to get his club the best chance to score. The kids in Ohio are hungry, and there is room for them to grow.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Kirill Kaprizov—Marco Rossi—Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson—Ryan Hartman—Matt Boldy
Marcus Foligno—Marat Khusnutdinov—Yakov Trenin
Jakub Lauko—Frederick Gaudreau—Liam Ohgren

Jacob Middleton—Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin—Zach Bogosian
Jon Merrill—Declan Chisholm

Filip Gustavsson
Marc-Andre Fleury

Scratched - Daemon Hunt,

Injured - Joel Eriksson Ek, Jared Spurgeon


Columbus Blue Jackets

Yegor Chinakhov -- Sean Monahan -- Kirill Marchenko
Zach Aston-Reese -- Adam Fantilli -- Justin Danforth
Mikael Pyyhtia -- Cole Sillinger -- Mathieu Olivier
James van Riemsdyk -- Sean Kuraly -- Kevin Labanc

Zach Werenski -- Ivan Provorov
Jake Christiansen -- Damon Severson
Jack Johnson -- David Jiricek

Daniil Tarasov
Jet Greaves

Scratched: Jordan Harris

Injured: Dmitri Voronkov (upper body), Boone Jenner (shoulder), Gavin Brindley (finger), Erik Gudbranson (upper body), Elvis Merzlikins (upper body), Kent Johnson (upper body), Max McCue, Jordan Dumais

Players to Watch

Minnesota — Matthew Boldy — 5 points in 4 games. The young winger is locked in long term, and could make the USA forward roster for the Four Nations tournament.

Columbus — David Jiricek — the defenseman of the future is finally getting his chance to put up numbers on home ice in his season debut. With the injuries on the defense, Evason is finally getting the man in. Big things expected.

Predicted Final Score

CBJ : 3

MIN : 6

Obituaries

https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog

https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ

Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:


https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K

https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.


https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.

https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season

https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss

https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)

https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)

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» CBJ PG4 — Six Separate Scorers

» CBJ G4 v Buffalo Sabres — Danny Debut

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» CBJ G3 v Florida Panthers — Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Night + Home Opener

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