Gameday Guide: Jan. 30 at Montreal

It's a blast from the past the Blue Jackets would rather not relive.
For much of last season -- and in the bubble playoffs in the summer of 2020 -- the team had to play in front of empty arenas because of precautions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Things did open up some near the end of the season, but it was still no fun playing a sport that thrives on energy in buildings that were sorely lacking it.

And it will be the same tonight in Montreal. Because of the omicron spike, provincial rules in Quebec state that no fans can be in attendance
tonight at Centre Bell as the Blue Jackets take on the Canadiens
.
"This presents a whole different kind of challenge here," head coach Brad Larsen said. "It'll be the first time we've played in a building with no fans. It's just different. There's a whole different feel, especially a building like this where the energy is usually very electric. It's a fantastic building to play in as a road team, so there's gonna be a period of time where we're going to have to figure it out and stay focused and create your own energy."
Perhaps the most disappointing part is that this is a city and an arena that is usually one of the best in the NHL from an atmosphere standpoint. Games in Centre Bell have a European-style feel and energy, and with a capacity of more than 21,000, the arena in downtown Montreal can be one of the loudest in the NHL.
But none of that will be on display tonight against a struggling Habs team that played a largely lifeless 7-2 loss to Edmonton last night. The Blue Jackets will want to try to use that lack of fans in their favor, as Montreal has won just eight of its 43 games this year and won't be able to draw anything from the crowd since it's not there.
"I think you get into the game early," winger Eric Robinson said. "Don't tiptoe into it. You just have to jump in and maybe get a hit early or find a way to get yourself into it. It's the same two points as any other night, so it's a big night for us and something we're going to have to be ready for."

3 Keys to the Game

Make your own energy: With the building empty, the Blue Jackets will need to find some jump somehow in a weird situation.
Handle the start: Columbus could be riding a high after the strong performance Thursday, while Montreal will want to atone for last night's 7-2 loss suffered at the hands of Edmonton. The Habs should come out flying, so the Jackets have to be ready.
Fill up the net: Montreal enters last in the league in goals against and has struggled to find good goaltending. Coming off a five-goal showing vs. the Rangers, Columbus will try to keep the good times going.

Notable

With two goals and a career-high-tying three points Thursday vs. New York, captain Boone Jenner has a team-best 18 goals and a 6-4-10 line in the last nine games. ... With two goals against the Rangers, Sean Kuraly has tied his career high with eight tallies on the campaign (2018-19 with Boston). … Gustav Nyquist has a 7-5-12 line in the last 14 games and four multipoint contests in the last 10. He also has four shorthanded goals on the season, first in the NHL. … Jakub Voracek is sixth in the league with 22 primary assists. … Max Domi is two goals from 100 and five assists from 200 in his NHL career. … He will return to Montreal for the first time since being traded to Columbus in August 2020. Domi had a 45-71-116 line in two seasons with the Habs. ... The Blue Jackets have trailed in 11 of their 19 wins this year and have five wins when trailing after two periods, one behind Florida for most in the NHL. Three of those comeback wins have been from two-goal deficits, including Thursday's victory against the Rangers. … Columbus was 2-0-1 against the Habs in 2019-20, lasting playing Feb. 2 in Montreal when the Jackets claimed a 4-3 win on Super Bowl Sunday. The Blue Jackets are 9-4-2 in the last 15 games in the series.

Projected Lineup

(Subject to change)
Gus Nyquist - Boone Jenner - Patrik Laine
Jakub Voracek - Cole Sillinger - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Max Domi - Jack Roslovic - Emil Bemstrom
Eric Robinson - Sean Kuraly - Yegor Chinakhov
Zach Werenski - Andrew Peeke
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Boqvist
Gavin Bayreuther - Jake Bean
Joonas Korpisalo (confirmed starter)
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratches:Alexandre Texier (fractured finger; out four weeks as of Jan. 27), Dean Kukan, Gabriel Carlsson
Injured Reserve:Justin Danforth (left knee sprain; six weeks as of Dec. 31); Daniil Tarasov (lower body; out indefinitely as of Jan. 4)
Taxi squad:None
COVID protocol: None
Roster Report:The Blue Jackets will use the same 18-skater lineup and the same goaltender, as Korpisalo will make his second straight start after an impressive winning performance Thursday against the Rangers.

This Day in CBJ History

Jan. 30, 2009: Steve Mason made 17 saves in a 1-0 shutout win over Ottawa in Nationwide Arena. It went into the books as the rookie's seventh shutout of the season.
Jan. 30, 2010: Kris Russell's overtime goal, assisted by Derick Brassard and Marc Methot, gave the Jackets a 3-2 win at St. Louis.
Jan. 30, 2011: Rick Nash plays in his fifth straight NHL All-Star Game, tallying 1-1-2 in a game played at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.