The Columbus Blue Jackets gain their star forward back tonight after missing him on Monday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
And sometimes, missing those stars isn't the worst if it means the team is forced to band together a little tighter to get a victory.
But, yes. It will be much nicer to have Artemi Panarin back on the ice tonight.
In a home-ice heavy month of December, the Blue Jackets have yet another chance to improve their Nationwide Arena presence. The surprisingly lowly New Jersey Devils come to town sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference.
PROJECTED LINES
Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson
Foligno – Wennberg – Duclair
Bjorkstrand – Jenner – Anderson
Hannikainen – Dubinsky – Nash
DEFENSEMEN
Murray – Jones
Werenski – Savard
Nutivaara – Harrington
GOALTENDER
Bobrovsky
STORYLINES
- After starting out November by going 1-4 in their first five games, the Blue Jackets are now riding a three-game point streak. They sit just four points out of first place, behind the Washington Capitals, and share the same amount of games played as them.
- The New Jersey Devils finished last season with 97 points, good for fourth place in the Metropolitan Division and a playoff birth. This season has not gone as planned though, with the Devils sitting at the bottom of the league with a minus-22 goal differential.
- The Blue Jackets have disappointed on the scoring front lately, only scoring eight goals in their last five games. A matchup against any of the Devils' goaltenders should do the trick for a solid offensive output, with the starting New Jersey goaltender (Keith Kinkaid) allowing three goals per game.
