Columbus Blue Jackets (38 pts) vs. Detroit Red Wings (34 pts) Game Preview
Columbus welcomes the Detroit Red Wings into Nationwide Arena tonight as the two rivals play each other for the first time this season.
The Jackets have lost the last three games against the Wings, and are going to want to stop that streak tonight. They get a Wings team that is very pedestrian on the road, while the Jackets are hot at home, winning their last four. So there's no better time than now to stop the streak.
Detroit comes into this game on a modest two-game winning streak themselves and has gone 5-5 in the last 10. The Red Wing rebuild is a hot topic up north, so being where they are in the standings is a touchy subject for Detroit fans.
The Wings have a good power play, ranked at 9th in the league, but the Jackets PK is clicking at 90% over the last 10 games, which is 3rd in the league over that time.
Detroit is currently 7th in the Atlantic, 14th in the East, and 27th in the league.
The Blue Jackets are 5th in the Metro, 10th in the East, and 21st in the league.
Series History vs. The Red Wings
Columbus is 26-23-8 at home and 46-53-15 in 114 all-time games against Detroit.
The Jackets are 1-4-1 in the last 6 against the Red Wings.
The Blue Jackets are 28-12-4 in the last 44 games vs. Detroit.
The CBJ are 15-7-1 in the last 23 games vs. the Red Wings.
Who To Watch For The Red Wings
Lucas Raymond leads the Wings with 15 goals and 38 points. He also has 13 points in nine games against Columbus.
Dylan Larkin has 13 goals and 29 points this season. He also has 25 points in 27 games against the Blue Jackets.
Cam Talbot is 6-9 with a .906 SV%.
Alex Lyon is 7-5 with a .899 SV%.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Red Wings
Elvis Merzļikins is 5-2-1 with a .924 SV% against the Red Wings. He's 4-0-0 in his last four against Detroit and is 3-0 at home with two shutouts.
Sean Monahan has 15 points in 20 games.
Zach Werenski has 15 points in 22 games against Detroit.
Injuries
Boone Jenner (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve on Oct. 7; (38 Games)
Erik Gudbranson (upper body) is on Injured Reserve on Oct. 16; (35 Games)
Yegor Chinakhov (upper body) is on Injured Reserve (17 Games)
Justin Danforth (lower body) is on Injured Reserve on Dec.10; (10 Games)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 149
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts on our forum.