Game Day #33: Merzlikins In Net And Malatesta Set For Season Debut When Blue Jackets Face Devils On Thursday Night

The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to end a five-game losing streak Thursday night when they face the New Jersey Devils at Nationwide Arena.

One new face in the lineup: James Malatesta, who will go in for Kevin Labanc and skate alongside Sean Kuraly and Mikael Pyyhtia.

The 21-year-old Malatesta has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 25 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). 

"My game is pretty good (right now)," said Malatesta. "I'm coming in here with some good confidence and a lot of excitement."

He played in 11 games (2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points) with the Blue Jackets last season, but this will be his first regular season game under first-year Columbus coach Dean Evason. The two talked Wednesday and Malatesta got the call up.

"He just wants me to play my game, keep it simple. We both know what i can do and basically just bring energy every shift that I'm out there," said Malatesta.

Evason agreed, using one word to describe the 5'9", 175lb forward.

"Gritty," said Evason. "Finishes his checks."

"We're looking for energy and he's a guy that we feel can do that."

Here's what else to know when Columbus faces New Jersey in the first meeting of the season between the divisional rivals:

• RE: DEVILS
  New Jersey is on a three-game winning streak and 5-1-1 in their last seven. They've only allowed more than two goals once in those seven games, and have went five in a row without allowing a power play goal (10/10 on the penalty kill in that stretch). ... Being the second best team in the NHL, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Devils rank top ten in all major categories: goals, goals against, power play, and penalty kill ...  Jake Allen gets the nod in net for the Devils in this game. He's posted a .900 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average in ten starts this season. 
   
• DEFENSIVE CHANGES
  While Dante Fabbro's knee injury appears to be minor, he won't play Thursday night. Jack Johnson will, however, after missing Tuesday's game. Damon Severson takes Fabbro's spot on the top pairing alongside Zach Werenski. Jake Christiansen gets bumped to the second pairing with Ivan Provorov, and the duo of Johnson and Jordan Harris will skate together on the third pairing.
   
• TOP SIX FLIPS
  James van Riemsdyk and Kent Johnson will be centered by Adam Fantilli on Thursday night, after the last number of games with Sean Monahan. Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko re-join Monahan on the "top" line, though minutes between the top two lines have been nearly identical for a majority of the season. The only line that remains the same from Tuesday's loss in Tampa: Zach Aston-Reese, Cole Sillinger, and Mathieu Olivier. 
   
• LINEUP CHANGES & PROJECTIONS
  Elvis Merzlikins gets the start in net, backed up by Daniil Tarasov. Jet Greaves has, at least for now, been loaned back to Cleveland. Here are the complete projections (subject to change):