Wednesday, November 27, 2024 – 7:30 PM EST
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: FDSN Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Site: Eyes on the Prize
Montreal Canadiens (7-11-3, 17 points, 8th Atlantic, 16th East)
vs.
Columbus Blue Jackets (9-9-2, 20 points, 7th Metro, 14th East)
It’s a slightly later start tonight, so get your Thanksgiving meal prep done early and settle in for some holiday eve hockey.
Player to Watch
Cole Caufield
As a fellow diminutive American winger that came out of NCAA hockey, Caufield was especially moved by the death of Johnny Gaudreau and chose to switch his number to 13 in honor of the late Blue Jackets star. He is off to a hot start, with 12 goals already in just 21 games. Coincidence? I think not!
Jackets Notes
Cole Sillinger has an upper body injury and will not play tonight … Zach Werenski was named the NHL’s first star of the week, with seven points in three games … Saturday’s game was the 500th NHL game for homegrown player Sean Kuraly … Cleveland Monster Stanislav Svozil has been suspended for 3 games by the AHL for an illegal check to the head against Milwaukee’s Joakim Kemell.
The Other Bench
Last time the Jackets and Habs faced off, the Jackets were the ones on the back end of a back-to-back. This time, it’s Montreal’s turn. They hosted the Utah Hockey Club (bad name, hope they officially become the Yeti next season) last night and lost 3-2 in overtime. The game-winner was scored by Montreal draftee Mikhail Sergachev – ouch!
Season Series
11/16/2024 CBJ 1 @ MTL 5
11/27/2024 MTL @ CBJ
12/23/2024 MTL @ CBJ
Stats
MontrealColumbus2.76 (21)GPG3.45 (7)3.76 (30)GAPG3.60 (29)21.4 (10)PP%18.2 (19)83.3 (8)PK%77.8 (19)45.6 (29)5v5 Shot Attempt %51.5 (10)44.8 (29)5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt %51.9 (8)9.8 (11)5v5 Shooting %10.0 (6)88.1 (32)5v5 Save %89.0 (29)Goal Caufield, 12G LeaderKirill Marchenko, 8Mike Matheson, 12A LeaderZach Werenski, 14Nick Suzuki, 19P LeaderS. Monahan, Z. Werenski, K. Marchenko, 20Mike Matheson, 27PIM LeaderMathieu Olivier, 352-6-1Home/Road7-3-03-5-2Last 104-5-1
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dmitri VoronkovSean MonahanKirill MarchenkoYegor ChinakhovAdam FantilliKent JohnsonZach Aston-ReeseJustin DanforthMathieu OlivierJames van RiemsdykSean KuralyKevin Labanc
Zach WerenskiDante FabbroIvan ProvorovDamon SeversonJake ChristiansenJordan Harris
Elvis MerzlikinsDaniil Tarasov
Montreal Canadiens
Cole CaufieldNick SuzukiAlex NewhookJosh AndersonChristian DvorakBrendan GallagherEmil HeinemanJake EvansJoshua RoyJuraj SlafkovskyKirby DachJoel Armia
Lane HutsonKaiden GuhleArber XhekajDavid SavardJayden StrubleJustin Barron
Cayden PrimeauSam Montembeault