Game Day #35: Denton Mateychuk Set For NHL Debut As Blue Jackets Host Canadiens

It is Denton Mateychuk time in Columbus.

The 20-year-old defenseman was called up Sunday and appears set to make his NHL debut Monday evening when the Columbus Blue Jackets face the Montreal Canadiens.

Mateychuk is the Blue Jackets top defensive prospect. He had a stellar preseason with Columbus that made it tough for the club not to put him on the opening roster. He was assigned to the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters, and has torn it up.

In 27 games with the Monsters, Mateychuk has nine goals (four on the power play) and 16 assists for 25 points. He leads the AHL in goals and points and is tied for third in assists.

More than that, he's shown he's NHL ready with his defensive prowess as well, and his fluid, quick style of play aligns perfectly with Columbus head coach Dean Evason's system.

The Blue Jackets could certainly use the blueline help: their 3.62 goals allowed average is second-worst int he NHL, with the penalty kill rankings near the bottom of the league (27th) as well.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets and Canadiens battle at Nationwide on Christmas Eve-Eve:

• RE: HABS
  After spending the first two months of the season at (or very close) to the bottom of the NHL, the Canadiens are slowly pulling themselves out. They've won three straight and six of their last nine to climb to 14-16-3 on the season. ... Special teams have been rolling in those three straight dubs: 13/13 on the penalty kill and 5/13 on the power play. Columbus will need to be smart. ... Sam Montembeault gets the start for Montreal on Monday night. He's 12-13-2 with a .903 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average and has been in net for all three games of the streak. ... Patrik Laine will play his first game against the Blue Jackets. He has eight goals in nine games with Montreal this season since returning from a preseason injury. All eight have been on the power play.
   
• KIRILL'S KRUSHIN' IT
  Kirill Marchenko has points in five straight games and eight of his last nine. His 18:07 per night of ice time trails only Sean Monahan when it comes to the Blue Jackets forwards group, and he is averaging exactly one point per game (34 in 34) as near the halfway point of the season.
   
• JET IN NET
  Jet Greaves, also called up from Cleveland over the weekend after a short stay with the Monsters, will start in net for Columbus. Elvis Merzlikins backs him up, and Daniil Tarasov is a scratch. Greaves has an .896 save percentage and 3.30 goals against average this season in his three starts, two of which came against (on the day of the game) the league's highest-scoring offense. 
   
• LINEUP CHANGES & PROJECTIONS
  Kevin Labanc is back into the lineup and replacing James Malatesta on the fourth line; Malatesta was loaned back to the Monsters on Sunday.
  
  There are several game-time decisions, particularly on the blue line, but here are the projections based off Monday's morning skate. These, of course, are (very) subject to change: