CBJ Gameday Guide: Oct. 16 vs. Seattle

Tonight, the Blue Jackets have the weird opportunity to bounce back from an 8-2 victory.
Of course, we jest a little bit, but the team fully acknowledges that while it took full advantage of Arizona's mistakes in the season opener, the style of play wasn't their best. And with
expansion Seattle in town
for the first-ever meeting between the squads, head coach Brad Larsen thinks the Jackets are ready to play more their style of play tonight.

"To me, the first game, there was just a lack of details we had," Larsen said. "The way I put it, I think we unplugged from it mentally. We were playing, but I didn't like the pace. There was structurally some stuff we were not doing in the preseason. We had it (then). We were locked in in a lot of areas, and that first game -- I guess I shouldn't be surprised with the emotion of it. It was a little bit sloppy. We showed video and they were like, 'Oh wow, what was I doing?'
"You look at that lineup we're facing tonight, there's a little more experience, they're very balanced all the way through. They're a good hockey team, so you are going to have to work for everything you get tonight."
Limited tickets remain available
, and
click here for FAQs and guidelines
about the return to Nationwide Arena. Also be aware that with the Crew playing downtown as well, you

to ensure finding a parking spot.

3 Keys to the Game

Better structure: Larsen said the Jackets scored so much by taking advantage of Arizona's mistakes on Thursday night in the opener but made plenty of miscues of their own. A more solid game will likely be required tonight against a Seattle team that has turned in two good outings so far.
Keep the power going: After a strong preseason, the CBJ power play was 2 for 3 in the opener. Could this be the year this is a difference maker for Columbus?
Stay confident: There's a good sense the Blue Jackets feel pretty good offensively right now, and confidence should be prevalent after an eight-goal opener. It can be a fleeting thing, but it does seem to be helping the CBJ game right now.

Notable

Coming off a team-leading 44 points last season, Oliver Bjorkstrand opened with a career-best four-point night (2-2-4) Thursday vs. Arizona, while Max Domi (1-2-3) added three points for a career-best tally in a CBJ jersey. … With two assists in the opener, Jakub Voracek is three assists away from 100 in union blue, while Bjorkstrand is four from the mark. … Thirteen CBJ players notched at least a point vs. the Coyotes. … Two players made the NHL debuts with Columbus on Thursday, with rookie center Cole Sillinger notching an assist and 28-year-old forward Gregory Hofmann skating 16:19. … Columbus had the youngest opening roster in the NHL at an average of 25.71 years old. … The Blue Jackets have players from 10 different countries on the roster, most in the NHL. ... Columbus is in the midst of playing five of its first six games at home. … Alexander Wennberg is the only former Blue Jackets player on the Seattle roster. … The last time the Jackets debuted against an expansion team, it was a 6-3 loss at Vegas on Jan. 23, 2018. Columbus replied later that season with a 4-1 victory in the first game in Nationwide Arena against the Golden Knights.

Projected Lineup

(Subject to change)
Patrik Laine - Alexandre Texier - Jakub Voracek
Gustav Nyquist - Jack Roslovic - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Boone Jenner - Cole Sillinger - Max Domi
Eric Robinson - Sean Kuraly - Gregory Hofmann
Zach Werenski - Jake Bean
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Boqvist
Scott Harrington - Andrew Peeke
Elvis Merzlikins (confirmed starter)
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratches:Justin Danforth, Dean Kukan
Injured Reserve: Emil Bemstrom (oblique; four to six weeks as of Oct. 14)
Roster Report:Columbus sent rookie Yegor Chinakhov, a healthy scratch for the team opener Thursday, to Cleveland to play in his North American debut tonight for the Monsters. Danforth was recalled but will not play; the only change to the lineup is Harrington going in for Kukan, with Merzlikins making his second straight start in net.