Game Preview: Banged-Up Blue Jackets Look To Silence Knights As Vegas Continues Five-Game Road Trip With A Stop In Columbus

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

32–24–4 (68 points; .567%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE

7:00 P.M. – SUNDAY, MARCH 13TH NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH

Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ (Out of Network)

Friday night's shootout win came at a cost for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

After Jakub Voracek left with a lower-body injury in the final minute of regulation, linemate Patrik Laine left with a lower-body injury of his own during the overtime period of Columbus' 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. 

Waiting for an update on either player Saturday, Blue Jacket fans were instead given the unexpected news that captain Boone Jenner was placed on injured reserve with a back injury that has him out on a week-to-week basis. 

Ouch.

Sunday, when the Blue Jackets face the Vegas Golden Knights and seek their 30th win of the season, they're likely do so without their three leaders in points. Jenner (44 points) will miss the game, and Voracek (43) and Laine (42) are likely to miss it, as well. Columbus has recalled forward Trey Fix-Wolansky from the Cleveland Monsters to help offset the damage, but no matter how you slice it, the 5th Line is likely to witness an unusual blend of line combinations for the forseeable future.

RE: GOLDEN KNIGHTS

You never root for an injury (or in this case, injuries), but several key players missing for the Blue Jackets is likely music to the Vegas' ears. Clinging to a playoff spot, the Golden Knights have lost the first three of a five-game road trip — and in less-than-pleasant fashion. The most recent loss, a 5-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins, was understandable. But that came after losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres; games in which the Golden Knights mustered up a total of two goals. 

In total, Vegas has just six goals in their last four games. It's not for lack of trying; the Knights have averaged over 40 shots per game during the slump. But opposing goaltenders have stopped 157 of Vegas' 163 shots — a ludicrous .963 save percentage. 

Former Blue Jackets Jonathan Marchessault (well, at least for 22 minutes over two games a decade ago) leads the Knights in points, with a stat line of 24-21-45. While he leads the team in goals and points, it's center Chandler Stephenson who leads Vegas in assists, with 29. Forwards Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone are both point-a-game players when healthy, but Stone is out indefinitely and Pacioretty has went without a goal in five straight games to go with just two assists. 

Vegas' two top defenders, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore are second in the league among qualifying pairings in goals allowed per 60 minutes with just 0.81 — but head coach Peter DeBoer rarely plays the two together. He may want to consider joining the two together to create a lockdown defensive unit, as starting goaltender Robin Lehner was sent home earlier in the week to further evaluate a lower-body injury. Laurent Brossoit is likely to make the start Sunday.

STORYLINES

• WHO'S GONNA PLAY?
  As of Sunday morning, there is no official word on the status of Laine and Voracek for Sunday's game — but both are likely out. Jenner is on injured reserve, Texier is overseas on a personal leave, Justin Danforth was injured earlier in the week. It'll be score-by-committee for the Blue Jackets on Sunday night, and head coach Brad Larsen will certainly have his work cut out for him.
   
• KEEP IT GOING, ELVIS
  Elvis Merzlikins was the number one star of the night in Friday's win, and it was his best start since stopping 30 of 31 shots against Montreal back in the early part of February. It's been a tough 2022 for Elvis after impressing in the first couple months of the season. An equally strong finish to the season would do wonders for the 27-year-old as he enters year one if his contract extension (and pay raise) for the 2022-23 season.

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