Here, you'll get everything you need to know – including keys to the game, where to watch and listen, and more – before the Blue Jackets and Golden Knights meet for the first time this season in Las Vegas.
The Blue Jackets began their road trip in Arizona on Thursday in thrilling fashion, taking down the Coyotes in a shootout, 5-4. Rookie Yegor Chinakhov scored the game-winner in the shootout with a beautiful wrist shot.
TUNE-IN
Where to watch, listen and stream tonight's game...
WHO: Blue Jackets (9-5-0) vs. Golden Knights (10-7-0)
WHERE: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: 10 p.m. ET
TV: Bally Sports Columbus (Jeff Rimer, Jody Shelley)
RADIO: 105.7 FM (Bob McElligott, Dylan Tyrer)
STREAM: ESPN+ (out of market only)
THE LOWDOWN
Two teams full of momentum are riding into this Saturday night battle. The Blue Jackets have won two in a row after taking down Detroit and Arizona, and the Golden Knights have won four of their last five, despite dealing with injuries to Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone among others. Stone is back, and Pacioretty is close, but the Golden Knights still aren't at full strength. Shea Theodore will miss tonight's contest, as will Mattias Janmark, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Nolan Patrick, and Alec Martinez.
Despite those losses, the Golden Knights are still playing good hockey. Elvis Merzlikins will man the cage for the Blue Jackets tonight, and he'll have to contend with Stone, Chandler Stephenson, Reilly Smith, Alex Pietrangelo, and Evgenii Dadonov, among others.
With the players that the Knights are missing, this is a great opportunity for the Blue Jackets to improve their win streak to three games, in what will undoubtedly be a raucous T-Mobile Arena. The Blue Jackets will get a big boost in their lineup tonight with the return of Max Domi from COVID-19 protocols. Gregory Hofmann is out tonight as a result of Domi being ready.
ALL-TIME: The Blue Jackets are 4-2-0 all time against the Golden Knights, and have won four out of their last five. The last time that the two clubs met was on January 11th of 2020, when Elvis Merzlikins pitched a shutout as Columbus was victorious, 3-0.
KEYS TO THE GAME
What do the Blue Jackets need to do to win tonight? We're glad you asked.
- Don't Underestimate Them: Yes, the Golden Knights are missing many of their top players. However, they're 10-7-0 on the year, and 4-2-0 at home. Every game in the NHL is difficult, as the Blue Jackets found out firsthand on Thursday against Arizona. It'll be a good test tonight against a team with a lot of depth, such as the Golden Knights.
- Keep The PK Humming: Dating back to Halloween night against New Jersey, the Blue Jackets have killed off 15 of the last 16 power plays they've given to their opposition. Yes, it's better to not take the penalties in the first place, but the unit has been very strong recently. Against offensive threats like Stone and Dadonov, they'll have to be alert while on the kill.
- Keep The Momentum Going: After wins over Detroit and Arizona, the Blue Jackets have the chance to win three games in a row for the second time this year, and we're only 14 games in. They didn't accomplish that feat once in 56 games last year.
From the head coach...
