Game Preview: Blue Jackets Look To Make It Two In A Row; Face Predators Thursday Night From Nationwide Arena

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

2–2–1 (5 points)

7:00 P.M. – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 NATIONWIDE ARENA  COLUMBUS, OH

Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ (Out of Network)

Fresh off their first win of the 2022-23 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on home ice Thursday night when they face a former division rival in the Nashville Predators. 

For the fourth straight game, the Blue Jackets trailed by multiple goals when the Vancouver Canucks took a 2-0 lead Tuesday night. But Columbus showed moxie for the first time in the young season, scoring four of the next five goals — including a beautiful overtime winner by Vladislav Gavrikov. 

The Blue Jackets will now look to make it two in a row in the win column against a Predator team that is winless in North America so far this season. They opened 2-0 with a pair of wins over the San Jose Sharks in the Czech Republic but have been held out of the win column in their three games back on their home continent. 

TALKING POINTS: NASHVILLE

• After returning from the Czech Republic, the Predators have been outscored 13-5 in losses against the Dallas Stars (twice) and Los Angeles Kings.
   
• Nino Niederreiter is off to a sensational start, scoring four goals in the first five games. He's not their points leader, though — with no assists to add, Niederreiter trails fellow forward 

  Mikael Granlund in that category. Granlund has five points; all assists. 

• Expect to see Juuse Saros between the pipes. He's gotten off to a below-average start, with a sub-.900 save percentage (.897) and 3.00 goals against average in four starts. While those numbers aren't bad by any means, both would be career lows for the 27-year-old Finland native if they held up. That doesn't seem likely, though. Saros is one of the best goaltenders in the league and Columbus will have their work cut out for them. 

• Two former Blue Jackets and one familiar name will be on the ice wearing Nashville sweaters. Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen both have big moments in Columbus sweaters (a playoff overtime winner for Duchene, and Johansen's first career goal and only NHL All-Star game appearance came as a member of the Blue Jackets). But another recognizable name will be out there too: Kiefer Sherwood, who was born in Columbus and is the brother of former Blue Jacket Kole Sherwood. Kiefer had the first goal of the season for the NHL when the Predators were in overseas two weeks ago. 

STORYLINES

• BUILDING BLOCK
  The Blue Jackets had three tough games to open the season, and Thursday's battle with Nashville is the first of another three games in four nights stretch. Like last week, all three opponents were in the playoffs last season. The schedule-makers did no favors for the Blue Jackets, but Tuesday's win was a huge weight off Columbus' shoulders and a reminder that the season — one week in — is not lost.
   
• MORE BLANKS
  Nick Blankenburg made his season debut in Tuesday's win and was all over the ice. He's a lock to be back in the lineup Thursday and has already won the 5th Line over. It's starting to seem like Blanks is going to be a fixture on the Blue Jackets blue line for years to come. With over 21 minutes of ice time, it was clear that the undrafted rookie is earning the trust of the coaching staff. 
   
• JOHN-CORE, JOHN-CORE!
  Johnny Gaudreau's sick wrap-around goal to tie the game in the third period Tuesday was a reminder of why his signing sent shockwaves through the hockey world. Gaudreau is a joy to watch, plain and simple. Seeing what he can do against any defense in the league is always going to be a pleasure for our eyes, and his encore Thursday night should be no different. 

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Updated: 12:40pm

*SUBJECT TO CHANGE