Gameday Preview: Blue Jackets at Hurricanes

BLUE JACKETS (37-38-7 in 2021-22) at HURRICANES (54-20-8 in 2021-22)

What They're Saying

Brad Larsen feels good about the Blue Jackets training camp, believing his players showed up in shape, battled for spots and handled the challenges thrown their way.
The CBJ head coach also knows that probably puts him in the same boat as 31 other coaches around the league.
"I'm very pleased with camp, but I'm sure everybody is saying that right now, that they are excited," the second-year coach said Monday. "We're in first place. We're also in last place. At this point, you gotta go play, but as far as the prep work that they put in before they got here, I was thrilled with that, and I think it carried through."
There has been plenty of talk and conjecture, as there is every offseason. The Blue Jackets and their fans are excited after an offseason that netted Gaudreau, the re-signing of Patrik Laine and the maturation of a young group of players. The hockey media, by and large, still thinks it won't be enough for Columbus to return to the playoffs after two years on the wrong side of the bar
The answer will start to come into focus tonight.
"We're excited," Zach Werenski said. "Every player goes home in the offseason and you put a lot of work in, and you put that work in for the games and times like this. We're excited to get things going. We had a good camp after a long offseason, so I think guys are hungry to get things going and see what we can do."

Gameday Update

The Blue Jackets found out for sure this morning that goaltender Elvis Merzlikins
will not be able to play because of illness
, leading to Daniil Tarasov to get the opening night nod in net.
Tarasov, 23, has played in four games in his NHL career, all last year, with three starts. While the 2017 third-round draft pick has an 0-2-0 record, he has a 2.40 GAA and .937 save percentage at the NHL level.
"Every day is something new, right?" Larsen said about the goalie shuffle. "Just gotta deal with it. That's it. He's excited. That's all I needed to hear. He has a big smile, ready to go."
Tarasov's last start was Jan. 1 vs. Carolina a season ago, as he stopped 31 of 33 shots against in two periods before leaving with a hip injury that eventually required surgery and ended his season.

Know The Foe: Carolina Hurricanes

Head coach: Rod Brind'Amour (fifth season)
2021-22 stats: Goals per game: 3.38 (9th) | Scoring defense: 2.44 (1st) | PP: 22.0 percent (13th) | PK: 88.0 percent (1st)
The narrative: Brind'Amour has engineered an impressive turnaround in Carolina, taking a team that had missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years and making the playoffs each of his first four seasons. The Hurricanes have won the Metropolitan Division each of the past two seasons, but the consistent success has raised expectations to the point the fast, aggressive team hopes to make it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning it in 2006.
2021-22 leaders:The fabulous Finn, Sebastian Aho, led the Hurricanes with 37 goals and 81 points a season ago, while young, flashy winger Andrei Svechnikov was right behind with a 30-39-69 line. Teuvo Teravainen added 22 goals and 65 points, while five other returning forwards posted double digits in goals in Seth Jarvis (17), Jordan Staal (17), Martin Necas (14), Jesper Fast (14) and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (12). Jaccob Slavin (4-38-42) is also one of the best two-way defenders in the league.
In net, Frederik Anderson (35-14-3/2.17 GAA/.922 save percentage) finished third in the league in goals saved above average per 60 minutes.
What's new:Carolina was active as ever in the offseason, saying goodbye to such notable names as Vincent Trocheck, Nino Niederreiter and Tony DeAngelo while bringing in two highly talented players in Max Pacioretty and Brent Burns. While Pacioretty is out indefinitely with an Achilles injury, the hope is that infusion of top-end talent will help the Canes contend come spring.
Trending: Columbus was 1-3-0 against Carolina a season ago but generally has played them even in Brind'Amour's tenure, posting a 9-8-2 mark against the Canes coach.

3 Keys to the Game

1. Handle the pressure: Columbus has learned the hard way over the years that if you're not on your toes from the beginning against Brind'Amour's Canes, it can be a long night. The Blue Jackets have to match Carolina's pace from the start.
   2. Take advantage: On the other side of things, Carolina is one of the most aggressive teams in the league and boasts an active defensive corps, which means you can catch them in transition if you make the right plays.
   3. Here's Johnny: Johnny Gaudreau is one of the best in the league at the transition game, and there might be opportunities for him to get the Jackets going on odd-man rushes against this particular team. Wouldn't it be fun if he has a big showing in game one?

3 Stats to Know

• After last year's 8-2 win over Arizona to begin the season, the Blue Jackets are 9-10-2 all-time in lid lifters. Columbus is opening on the road for the eighth time ever, with a 4-3-0 mark in previous seasons in such games.
• Columbus is coming off a season in which 12 different players reached double figures in goals, tying a team record (2016-17). Ten of those players return -- Laine (26), Boone Jenner (23), Jack Roslovic (22), Gustav Nyquist (18), Cole Sillinger (16), Sean Kuraly (14), Werenski (11), Adam Boqvist (11), Eric Robinson (10) and Justin Danforth (10).
• Gaudreau is one assist away from 400 in his NHL career, while Sean Kuraly is two points from 100.

Who's Hot

Laine is coming off the first point-per-game season in his NHL career (26-30-56 in 56 games). … Gaudreau finished tied for second in the NHL a year ago with Jonathan Huberdeau, who was acquired by Calgary to fill the hole left by Gaudreau, with 115 points. … Yegor Chinakhov led the NHL with six preseason goals. … Five returning CBJ veterans set career highs in points -- Werenski (48), Jack Roslovic (45), Vladislav Gavrikov (33), Sean Kuraly (30) and Eric Robinson (27).

This Day in CBJ History

Oct. 12, 2000: Kevyn Adams scores two goals, including the game winner at 4:13 of the second period, as the Blue Jackets post the first win in franchise history with a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome.

Roster Report

Projected Lineup (subject to change)
Johnny Gaudreau - Boone Jenner - Patrik Laine
Yegor Chinakhov - Jack Roslovic - Jakub Voracek
Gustav Nyquist - Cole Sillinger - Justin Danforth
Eric Robinson - Sean Kuraly - Mathieu Olivier
Zach Werenski - Adam Boqvist
Vladislav Gavrikov - Andrew Peeke
Jake Bean - Erik Gudbranson
Daniil Tarasov
Jet Greaves
Scratches:Liam Foudy, Nick Blankenburg, Elvis Merzlikins (illness)
Injured/non-roster list:Joonas Korpisalo (hip, day to day); Joona Luoto (lower body, day to day)
Roster Report:The Blue Jackets announced Wednesday morning that Merzlikins would miss the game with illness, while Kent Johnson was sent to Cleveland to make room for emergency recall Greaves. ... Thirteen of 18 opening night skaters from a year ago return, with Gaudreau, Chinakhov, Danforth, Olivier and Gudbranson replacing Oliver Bjorkstrand, Max Domi, Gregory Hofmann, Alexandre Texier and Dean Kukan. Three players -- Gaudreau, Olivier and Gudbranson -- are set to make their CBJ debuts.