Gameday Guide: April 22 vs. Ottawa

The Blue Jackets are back in Nationwide Arena, and there will be more than just hockey happening tonight.
It's
Community Night
presented by Worthington Industries, as the evening will highlight the impact the Blue Jackets made in the community during the 2021-22 season. That will include the announcement of the recipient of the club's 2021-22 Community MVP Award, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies service, dedication and leadership.

Also, the final installment of
Hockey for Her
will take place, as special guests include NBC4 sports anchor Whitney Harding, Ohio native and former U.S. Women's National Sled Hockey Team athlete Kelli Anne Stallkamp, Ohio State women's hockey NCAA champion Emily Curlett, and Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, Founder/CEO of the national girl-serving nonprofit, Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX). Learn more about these women's incredible journey, their inspiration and projects they are working on today, and meet like-minded female hockey fans.
On the ice, Columbus will look to snap a three-game losing streak, as the Jackets were in a trio of tight games this past week in California but lost to Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose.
The team flew back from the Golden State on Wednesday and practiced Thursday ahead of tonight's game.
"You do the best you can do," head coach Brad Larsen said of recovering from the cross-country flight. "These are discussions you have during the offseason about sleep management. That's a big thing now, right? Do what's best. If you fly right after the game, you don't get in until 4 or 5 in the morning. You try to get your rest and recovery and get ready to go, so we'll see."

3 Keys to the Game

A better start: It's been harped on, but the Jackets had to fight back from early deficits in all three games of the recent California swing. It's just hard to do on a consistent basis.
Fill new roles: With Columbus missing so many key players, it's a chance for guys in new or expanded roles to stake their claim.
Find the energy: It might be tough after a long road trip, but teams have overcome it before.

Notable

Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov is set to play in his 200th NHL game. … Sean Kuraly ranks 12th in the NHL with 231 hits (5th most in CBJ history). The center has five points in his last five games played (3-2-5) and goals in two of three. Kuraly is also two points from 100 in his NHL career (38 goals, 60 assists). … Forward Jack Roslovic has seven goals in the last five games and a career high of 19. … CBJ forward Justin Danforth has goals in four of the last 10 games. … With 11 goals on the year, both Zach Werenski and Adam Boqvist are tied for sixth all-time in single-season tallies among CBJ defensemen. … Jakub Voracek's 51 assists this season are the fourth most in franchise history. … Voracek (5-51-46) is the first forward in NHL history with more than 50 assists in a season and fewer than eight goals. … Cole Sillinger has goals in three of the last five games. His 14 goals are tied for the fourth most in franchise history for a rookie (Sonny Milano, 2017-18). … With 25 wins on the season, Merzlikins is eighth in franchise history for a single season. … Gustav Nyquist's four shorthanded goals on the season are tied for second in the NHL, and he has six assists in the last five games. … The Blue Jackets have set a new franchise record this year with 22 come-from-behind wins. Columbus also has eight wins when trailing after two periods, second in the NHL and the second most in franchise history. … The teams have split the first two games of the season series, winning in each other's home buildings. Ottawa posted a 2-1 victory Jan. 23 in Nationwide Arena, while Columbus countered with a 4-1 victory March 16 in the Canadian Tire Center. Columbus is 7-1-1 in the last nine in the series.

Projected Lineup

(Subject to change)
Gus Nyquist - Jack Roslovic - Jakub Voracek
Eric Robinson - Sean Kuraly - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Kent Johnson - Cole Sillinger - Justin Danforth
Emil Bemstrom - Brendan Gaunce - Carson Meyer
Jake Bean - Andrew Peeke
Vladislav Gavrikov - Nick Blankenburg
Gabriel Carlsson - Gavin Bayreuther
Elvis Merzlikins (confirmed starter)
Jean-Francois Berube
Scratches: Dean Kukan
Unavailable: Adam Boqvist (lower body injury, day to day); Patrik Laine (upper body injury, day to day); Zach Werenski (upper body injury, day to day); Yegor Chinakhov (upper body injury, day to day); Joonas Korpisalo (hip surgery, out for season); Boone Jenner (back, week to week); Daniil Tarasov (hip surgery, out for season); Alexandre Texier (indefinite leave of absence)
Roster Report: The Blue Jackets will make one change to the lineup, with Carlsson replacing Boqvist, who was injured in practice Thursday, Larsen said.

This Day in CBJ History

April 22, 2002: The Blue Jackets re-signed LW Jody Shelley to a multi-year contract.