Tonight's Blue Jackets home opener brings some lineup changes along with it.
The Jackets welcome the reigning three-time defending Eastern Conference champion-Tampa Bay Lightning, who, like the Blue Jackets, lost their opening night game in regulation, 3-1 to the New York Rangers.
Lineup changes
With Patrik Laine out for three-to-four weeks with an elbow sprain, Justin Danforth will take his spot on the top line and Kent Johnson will make his season debut replacing Danforth on the third line.
Back to Tarasov
Daniil Tarasov will start in net for the second consecutive game, Brad Larsen told the media today. Larsen said that Elvis Merzlikins, who missed Wednesday's game with an illness, is on the mend.
"He's doing better," Larsen said. "He just hasn't practiced in three days so it doesn't make sense to put him in."
Daniil Tarasov will start in goal tonight for the Blue Jackets, Larsen said. #CBJ
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) October 14, 2022
Lines in the morning skate
Embedded below are tweets containing both the lines and power play units from today's morning skate.
#CBJ lines at morning skate:
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) October 14, 2022
Gaudreau-Jenner-Danforth
Chinakov-Roslovic-Voracek
Nyquist-Sillinger-Johnson
Robinson-Kuraly-Olivier
Werenski-Boqvist
Gavrikov-Peeke
Bean-Gudbranson
Merzlikins/Tarasov
Extras: Blankenburg, Foudy
#CBJ PP units at morning skate:
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) October 14, 2022
PP1:
Point: Werenski
LW: Sillinger
RW: Gaudreau
Bumper: Danforth
Net-front: Jenner
PP2:
Point: Boqvist
LW: Chinakov
RW: Johnson
Bumper: Roslovic
Net-front: Voracek
Soundbites
- Larsen praised Danforth and spoke about tonight's top line: "He's just a relentless competitor. I think he plays the game at pace. I don't think he gets enough credit for his offensive ability because of the way he had to get into the lineup, but you're starting to see more opportunities. He's got a good shot. He's got a good knack around the net. He's got a lot quieter hands than guys give him credit for. I love the pace that he plays at. He can attack the game with speed. So again, it's in pencil. We'll see how it goes. And we'll go from there."
- Johnson on his season debut: "I'm so excited. I just can't wait for tonight."
- Johnson on playing on a line with fellow 2021 first-round pick Cole Sillinger: "It's really cool. Hopefully, we can be here for a really long time and play really well together. Obviously, he's a great shooter [and I will] try to get him the puck in the slot a lot."
- Sillinger on playing in Laine's left-wing spot on the top power-play unit: "It's tough to fill [the spot of] a right-hand shot or a bomb [of a shot] like [Laine] has but I think I bring in a little bit of different dynamic with me coming downhill and a different hand shot and just trying to compliment guys like [Zach Werenski] and [Johnny Gaudreau] as much as I can being up-top. I'm ready to take on that challenge."
- Danforth on Gaudreau: "Obviously, he's a hell of a hockey player. He's fun to watch and he loves to have the puck on his stick and he controls the play and he can break pucks out pretty easily. Really just get pucks to him and find the open ice."
- Lightning head coach Jon Cooper: "The one thing about Columbus [is] they compete really hard. So they've kept that nucleus of guys that do that and then they've got skilled guys." Cooper added that "this organization is trending in the right direction and I like what they're doing and they're going to be a handful for us."
The Jackets will look to pick up their first win of the season tonight at 7 p.m. at Nationwide Arena. The game will be broadcast live on Bally Sports Ohio and on 97.1 FM The Fan.
