Game Preview: Top Three Picks Face Off As Adam Fantilli And The Columbus Blue Jackets Meet Leo Carlsson And The Anaheim Ducks

ANAHEIM DUCKS
1-4-0 (2 pts; .200%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE
6:30 P.M. – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 NATIONWIDE ARENA  COLUMBUS, OH
TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ (Out of Market)
ODDS & PROJECTIONS:
ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK: 59%
TIPICO SPORTSBOOK: CBJ -150

With a victory Tuesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets could do something they haven't done in over a year and a half.

Win three straight games.

To do it, they'll need to beat the Anaheim Ducks, a club surprised many (including the Blue Jackets) when they opted to select Leo Carlsson at number two overall over Adam Fantilli, who dropped into Columbus' open arms at third overall. Carlsson scored his first goal in his first game; for Fantilli, it took his fifth game — but both players look every bit ready for the NHL.

The game has a rare 6:30 p.m. start at Nationwide Arena. The early start is to help accommodate ESPN's Frozen Frenzy, a broadcast promising to delivery all of the biggest goals, saves, and hits as they happen. Games are being started in increments of 15 minutes, so many games have unusual start times (6:30, 7:15, 8:45, etc.). 

Here's what else to know when the puck drops at Nationwide Arena:

TALKING POINTS: ANA

• The offense has not been there for the Ducks on this young season — with the exception of a six-goal outburst in their only win over the season. In the other four games, the Ducks are 0-4-0 with a total of five goals. Part of the reason for that could be the power play, which has converted just once in 15 attempts so far.
   
• Carlsson has played in just two of Anaheim's first five games this season as part of a load management technique the Ducks are giving him to start the season. With Anaheim off Monday and Wednesday and thus, no back-to-back games, Carlsson is expected to play. (12:00pm update: Carlsson will not play.)

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• Columbus won consecutive games on five occasions last season but couldn't bring home two points on the third game in any of those attempts. Their last three-game win streak was March 11th-16th, 2022. That's a span of 108 games without "W3" in the column.
   
• Adam Fantilli got his first goal of the season in Saturday's overtime winner. He's looked sharp to start his NHL career, but the reason for the Blue Jackets warm-ish start to the season can be attributed to a number of players stepping up, not just Fantilli. Jack Roslovic and Justin Danforth, in particular, have been punching above their weight. With roles still up in the air, this is a crucial time for these players.
   
• Dmitri Voronkov is slated to make his NHL debut in the game. After several years in the KHL, the 23-year-old spent the first couple of weeks of this season with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. Voronkov is large (6'5", 240) and has a heavy shot. Expected to slot in as a bottom-six winger, it's not likely that we'll get to see much of it — but this is certainly his chance to stay in Columbus for good and earn the expanded role that he has the potential for.

Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change