Gameday Preview: Blue Jackets at Coyotes

The Details

BLUE JACKETS at COYOTES
GAME INFO
COLUMBUS: 18-34-4, 8th in Metropolitan
ARIZONA: 19-28-9, 7th in Central
MULLETT ARENA, 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST INFO
TV:
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AUDIO:
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BY THE NUMBERS
CBJ Player Statistics
Coyotes Player Statistics
NHL Standings
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What They're Saying

The Blue Jackets are playing good hockey, having won three of four, heading into tonoight's game in Arizona.
All four of those contests have come against teams in playoff positions, including last night's 4-1 victory at Dallas. Columbus played a playoff-style game that one, as the Blue Jackets got contributions from up and down the lineup to get the win.
Included was the team's checking and energy line of Eric Robinson, Sean Kuraly and Mathieu Olivier. Kuraly was elevated to wearing an "A" on his sweater before the game with the injury absence of Johnny Gaudreau, and that group responded by being on the ice for a trio of CBJ goals.
"I think we've been playing together for most of the year apart from injuries and illnesses," said Olivier, who had his first career three-point night. "Our chemistry is right up there and (we know) how we have to play to be successful and what we can bring to this team. Anytime we can contribute, I'd say that's not our primary role, but we want to do it as much as anyone else, so it definitely feels good."
Head coach Brad Larsen said the improved play stretches back to the team's last game before the All-Star break against Washington, but he has noticed how the team has built momentum since coming back.
"It's been a challenging year no question, but for us as coaches, (it's nice) to watch them get results when you put the work in," Larsen said.

Know The Foe: Arizona Coyotes

Head coach: Andre Tourigny (Second season)
Season Stats: Goals per game: 2.66 (29th) | Scoring defense: 3.46 (24th) | PP: 19.4 percent (24th) | PK: 76.3 percent (23rd)
The narrative: It's a rebuild in Arizona, as a team that has made just one playoff appearance in the past 10 seasons turning its eyes toward the future. Building block defenseman Jacob Chychrun is on the market and being held out of play as the Coyotes set their sights on the future, with such youngsters as World Juniors gold medal hero Dylan Guenther and defenseman Victor Soderstrom having already seen action this year but more serving as pieces the team hopes to build around as it matures down the road. Add in 2022 picks Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie and there is reason for hope in Arizona, but it's years away.
2022-23 leaders:Clayton Keller is also still pretty young and a good piece to build around as the 24-year-old winger leads the way with 23 goals and 52 points this season for the Coyotes. Nick Schmaltz has been limited to 40 games but boasts a 14-21-35 line, while Lawson Crouse has 19 goals among his 31 points. Shayne Gostisbehere (9-20-29) and Chychrun (7-21-28) lead the defensive scoring, but the former is injured and the latter likely won't play until he finds a new home on the market.
In net, Czech goalie Karel Vejmelka has started 38 games and gone 15-17-5 with a 3.31 GAA and .904 save percentage.
What's new: When the season began, the thought was the Coyotes could challenge for the top draft pick in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, but Arizona has started to play some good hockey of late. The team has followed a nine-game losing streak at the start of the calendar year with a 6-3-4 run, and the Coyotes have points in eight straight (4-0-4). They've allowed just 22 goals in that span, only 18 of them in regulation.
Trending: Arizona won the opening game of the season series this year, downing Columbus in Nationwide Arena by a 6-3 score Oct. 25. Columbus had been 10-2-0 in the previous 12 meetings, and the Blue Jackets haven't lost in Arizona since Jan. 3, 2015, with six straight wins in the desert.
Former CBJ:None.

3 Keys to the Game

Managing energy: Both teams are in the second of a back-to-back, so whichever team has the jump at the start will be key.
Playing in fives: The Blue Jackets have played with excellent structure in recent games, which has led to keeping pucks out of the net.
Enjoy the show: Playing in Mullett Arena brings a unique experience, but the energy in the small building can play to the Jackets' advantage.

3 Stats to Know

• Columbus is in for a battle for the team's goal lead down the stretch. Captain Boone Jenner has 16 on the season, with Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau one behind and Kirill Marchenko lurking at 14.
• Marchenko's 14 goals are the most in franchise history for a player in his first 32 NHL games. They also are tied for fifth-most ever for a CBJ rookie with Sonny Milano (2017-18), and he is second in the league among rookie goal scorers behind only Seattle's Matty Beniers (18).
• Milestone watch: Mathieu Olivier set to play in his 100th career game (7-12-19, 99 GP). … Gavin Bayreuther is four games from 100 for his NHL career (5-16-21, 96 GP). … Erik Gudbranson is four games from 700 for his NHL career (28-76-104, 696 GP).

Who's Hot

Liam Foudy scored his first career goal Saturday. … Joonas Korpisalo has a .921 save percentage in his last 14 appearances. … After his goal last night, Adam Boqvist has a 2-11-13 line in the last 16 games. … Laine has 6-12-18 in the last 17 games. … With Marchenko (14 goals) and Kent Johnson (12) both in double digits, this is the third time in CBJ history that two rookies have at least 10 goals. The previous instances were 2000-01 (Serge Aubin and David Vyborny, each with 13) and 2016-17 (Pierre-Luc Dubois with 20 and Sonny Milano with 14). ... Johnson's 27 points (12-15-27) are the 10th-most ever for a CBJ rookie. He ranks tied for fourth in the NHL in goals and points among rookies. … CBJ rookies lead all NHL teams in goals and place second in points with 33-33-66 in 56 games.

This Day in CBJ History

Feb. 19, 2009: Ken Hitchcock posts his 500th win as an NHL coach as the Blue Jackets post a 4-3 shootout win at Toronto. Rick Nash scores the deciding goal in the shootout to provide two crucial points on the team's march to its first playoff appearance. Hitchcock becomes the 13th NHL coach to reach the milestone.

Roster Report

Projected Lineup (subject to change)
Johnny Gaudreau - Boone Jenner - Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson - Cole Sillinger - Patrik Laine
Liam Foudy - Jack Roslovic - Emil Bemstrom
Eric Robinson - Sean Kuraly - Mathieu Olivier
Tim Berni - Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg - Andrew Peeke
Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratches:Johnny Gaudreau (lower body injury, day to day), Vladislav Gavrikov (trade-related)
Injured reserve: Gustav Nyquist (upper body injury, out indefinitely); Yegor Chinakhov (high ankle sprain, out six weeks as of Dec. 21); Carson Meyer (oblique, out six to eight weeks as of Jan. 11); Jake Bean (shoulder, out four to six months after surgery in November); Jakub Voracek (upper body, out indefinitely); Zach Werenski (shoulder surgery, out for season); Justin Danforth (shoulder surgery, out for season)
Roster Report: The Blue Jackets will use the same lineup as Saturday night but with Merzlikins getting the call between the pipes.