Game Day #71: Sillinger Returns To Lineup Friday Night When Blue Jackets Battle Canucks

After Monday's controversial shootout win over the New York Islanders, the Columbus Blue Jackets have spent the week practicing on home ice, continuing to get healthy, and doing a bit of scoreboard watching. 

All three could be called a success. 

Despite three days off, the Blue Jackets have remained just two points behind the final wild card spot in a busy Eastern Conference playoff picture, with a chance to move into a tie for the last spot Friday night with a win over the Vancouver Canucks. 

They've been getting healthy, too, as the team announced Friday morning that they've activated Cole Sillinger from Injured Reserve and that he's set to return to the lineup Friday night.

Sillinger, who was injured in the game prior to the March 1st Stadium Series showdown, will skate at left wing opposite of Mathieu Olivier and centered by Justin Danforth in Friday's game. James van Riemsdyk, who hasn't had a point in his last seven games and has seen a decrease in ice time, will be a healthy scratch.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets and Canucks face off at Nationwide Arena:

• RE: CANUCKS
  Like Columbus, the Canucks are battling for a wild card spot. They are five points behind the surging St. Louis Blues for the last spot but have two games in hand. This game is as big for Vancouver as it is for Columbus. ... The Canucks are in the middle of a long, six-game road trip and are 2-1-1 through the first four. ... They have 15 goals in those four games, but none on the power play: 0-for-7 on the man-advantage during the road trip. ...  Kevin Lankinen gets the start in net. He's 24-14-8 this season with a 2.59 goals against average and .901 save percentage. He's given up four goals in each of his last two games.
   
• Z'S COLD STREAK
  Zach Werenski hasn't had a point in six consecutive games, the first time he's gone more than three straight games without a point since four straight in January of 2022. He set a career-high in time on ice Monday night with 33:44. That streak has to end soon, right?
   
• VORONKOV-MONAHAN-MARCHENKO REUNION
  Sean Monahan's return Monday night meant the return of the Dmitri Voronkov, Monahan, and Kirill Marchenko top line that had tons of success before Monahan's Jan. 7th injury. How'd they do? In 12:37 together at 5-on-5, they had 13 shot attempts (allowed 15), six shots on goal (allowed five), and had an expected goal count of 0.92 (the opposition: 0.58). They were on the ice for a goal — and on the ice for a goal against. The stats were a mixed bag, but it was clear to see that the chemistry was there. It should only improve as time goes by.
   
• LINEUPS CHANGES & PROJECTIONS:
  Sillinger's return and the scratching of van Riemsdyk bumps Zach Aston-Reese to the fourth line, but no other lineup changes are expected. Here are the complete lineup projections: