SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31ST
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| NEW JERSEY DEVILS |
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LOCAL TV: BALLY SPORTS OHIO OUT OF MARKET: ESPN+ RADIO: THE FAN 97.1FM |
Bumps in the road were to be expected with this young team, and the Columbus Blue Jackets gave us just that in Friday's 4-0 loss against the New York Rangers. They were shutout for the first time in 22 games dating back to last season, and after allowing two goals in the first period, were never really in the game. With another road game against a division rival, the Blue Jackets look to respond with an improved effort Sunday when they face the New Jersey Devils.
| DEVILS THIS SEASON |
| Record: 4-2-0 (8 points) |
| Home Record: 3-2-0 |
| 82-game pace: 109.3 points |
| LAST THREE GAMES: |
| 10/30: Win 4-2 @ Penguins |
| 10/26: Loss 4-3 vs. Flames |
| 10/23: Win 2-1 (OT) vs. Sabres |
| TEAM LEADERS: |
| Goals: Pavel Zacha (4) |
| Assists: Dougie Hamilton (4) |
| Points: Three tied at (5) |
KNOW THE FOE
These Devils are different than the pre-Covid era, when the two teams last faced each other. New Jersey is off to a 4-2 start this season, with their only two losses coming against the Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames. Those two teams are a combined 11-1-4 to start the season and beating either of them has been a tall order to start the season.
Like the Blue Jackets, the Devils are young. The two teams are tied for the youngest average age in the NHL, at just over 25 years old. So, like the Blue Jackets, the Devils are also prone to making the mistakes expected of a less-experienced team. Columbus should look to attack early.
New Jersey's summer signing of Dougie Hamilton away from the Carolina Hurricanes was a bit of a surprise, and he's as good as his seven year, $63 million contract would make him out to be. He's tied for the team in points and has been the minutes leader on a defense that has played well with starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood out to start the season. Blackwood is expected back soon, but will not play Sunday. New Jersey will also be playing the second night of a road-to-home back-to-back. Jonathan Bernier has played well in Blackwood's absence, but his start Saturday in Pittsburgh means it will likely be Scott Wedgewood in net against Columbus. Wedgewood has an .878 save percentage in two games this season, and in 37 career starts, has a goals against average of over three.
TEAM STATS
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BETWEEN THE PIPES
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PROJECTED LINES*
| LW | C | RW | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Patrik Laine | 38 | Boone Jenner | 93 | Jakub Voracek |
| 15 | Gregory Hofmann | 96 | Jack Roslovic | 28 | Oliver Bjorkstrand |
| 14 | Gustav Nyquist | 34 | Cole Sillinger | 16 | Max Domi |
| 50 | Eric Robinson | 7 | Sean Kuraly | 42 | Alexandre Texier |
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| 8 | Zach Werenski | 22 | Jake Bean | ||
| 44 | Vladislav Gavrikov | 2 | Andrew Peeke | ||
| 53 | Gabriel Carlsson | 4 | Scott Harrington | ||
*subject to change
STORYLINES
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MULLIGAN: The Blue Jackets played their worst game of the season Friday. Not only were they shutout 4-0 by the New York Rangers, they had very little to offer in terms of scoring chances, and the defense looked like Big Apple tourists. Columbus' previous two losses saw bounce-back wins. How will the team respond this time around?
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THIRD PAIRING: One big reason why the Blue Jackets looked off on defense was the third pairing of Scott Harrington and Gabriel Carlsson. Take a look at Friday's stat card:
The pairing saw just 23:40 of ice time combined, yet had the worst impact on the game than any other defensemen. With Adam Boqvist and Dean Kukan out, it's not the ideal third pairing for the Blue Jackets, but it looks to be what Columbus will trot out again against New Jersey. Here's to hoping for some improved blue line play.#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Columbus Blue Jackets on 2021-10-29:#CBJ pic.twitter.com/oblXuCuSMD
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) October 30, 2021
- SILLINGER STUFF: Cole Sillinger has scored just one goal in his first seven games, but the 18-year-old could easily have a few more. Sillinger gave the Blue Jackets their best chance to score Friday with a third period opportunity, and it was that one chance that gave him an expected goal total of 0.73 — the highest of any player on either team for the game. The Blue Jackets are going to have a decision to make on Sillinger at the end of the road trip (Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche), as the club will need to decide by the end of the week if Sillinger is going to stay in Columbus beyond ten games. If he stays with the team, his entry level contract will start Saturday, when the Blue Jackets return to Nationwide Arena to complete a home-and-home with the Avalanche. If he doesn't, it's off to Cleveland to play with the Monsters or back to his junior team in the Western Hockey League. Head coach Brad Larsen and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen have been mum on which was they're leaning, but Sillinger has made a great case thus far that he can play full-time in the NHL. Another strong outing on Sunday would further that argument.
