The Columbus Blue Jackets conclude their road trip and final road game before the Four Nations break with a battle in Buffalo against the streaking Sabres. This is their second meeting of three and only visit to KeyBank Center this regular season.

Buffalo is riding red hot after having Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka both put up hat-tricks in the same game against Boston; however, Thompson has been ruled out tonight. Dahlin also have five assists in their last three games. The Sabres have also been heavily involved in trade talks with forward Elias Petterson for Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram.

Ruff has had to come out and defend on the team on their responsiveness, but the club is behind on their expectations once again this season. It’s disappointing to see the drought continue.

Columbus is coming into this one hurting as Kirill Marchenko is out for the next month. Aaron Portzline of the Athletic has confirmed overnight that Marchenko had insertion of metal plates and screws; that could have him return before the initial 6-8 week timeline. While sad he is out, Jenner and Chinakov are closer to returning. These internal returns may be the buy-in the club needs to get the fresh legs and motivated skaters back in time for the Navy Federal Stadium Series.

Currently, these injuries will test the Jackets’ lineup. The right wingers are sliding up the the depth chart. Kevin Labanc gets back into the lineup. The defense is also hurting as both Zach Werenski and Dante Fabbro are being held out of the lineup. Jack Johnson and Jordan Harris both come in. Elvis Merzlikins gets the start.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski have been named third star in the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of January presented by GEICO with 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 14 games.

Keys to Win

1. Offense v Offense — 8th and 11th ranked offenses are in a battle tonight without some major scorers including Werenski and Marchenko for Columbus and Thompson for Buffalo.
2. Road Test — Columbus continues to struggle on the road as don’t have the matchups and the hot streak of Werenski.
3. Depth Test — the roster will be tested without four of the six top forwards and their number one defenseman.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

JJ Peterka -- Jiri Kulich -- Isak Rosen
Jason Zucker -- Dylan Cozens -- Alex Tuch
Zach Benson -- Ryan McLeod -- Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn -- Peyton Krebs - - Dennis Gilbert

Bowen Byram -- Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power -- Connor Clifton
Jacob Bryson -- Henri Jokiharju

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
James Reimer

Scratched: Sam Lafferty

Injured: Mattias Samuelsson (lower body), Tage Thompson (undisclosed), Tyson Kozak (illness), Jordan Greenway (middle body)

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dmitri Voronkov -- Adam Fantilli -- Cole Sillinger
James van Riemsdyk -- Luca Del Bel Belluz -- Kent Johnson
Zach Aston-Reese -- Justin Danforth -- Mathieu Olivier
Mikael Pyyhtia -- Sean Kuraly -- Kevin Labanc

Denton Mateychuk -- Ivan Provorov
Jake Christiansen -- Damon Severson
Jack Johnson -- Jordan Harris

Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov

Scratched: Dylan Gambrell

Injured: Zach Werenski (undisclosed), Dante Fabbro (upper body), Kirill Marchenko (broken jaw), Erik Gudbranson (upper body), Boone Jenner (shoulder), Yegor Chinakhov (upper body), Sean Monahan (wrist)

Players to Watch

Buffalo — Jason Zucker — has had a strong year with his new club, but could be moved at the deadline if they can’t lock him up.

Columbus — Denton Mateychuk — on the top pair tonight; the rookie has not had a point since Jan. 9.

Predicted Final Score

BUF — 5

CBJ — 7

Gambling Odds

Buffalo is somehow a -180 and Columbus is a +150 per NHL Draft Kings.

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