Game Preview: Former Central Division Foes Face Off When Blues, Blue Jackets Meet Friday Night

ST. LOUIS BLUES
13-11-1 (27 pts; .563%) ROSTER SCHEDULE
7:00 P.M. – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH
TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play
ODDS & PROJECTIONS:
ODDS OF CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK: 54%
PLAYOFF ODDS PER MONEYPUCK:  Islanders: 18% Blue Jackets: 5%
TIPICO SPORTSBOOK: CBJ +105

A few game previews back, I asked the question: is it better to blow a lead, or get blown out?

The Columbus Blue Jackets somehow managed to do both Thursday night, turning a 2-1 lead late in the second period into a 7-3 loss at the hands of the New York Islanders, a team that's had trouble holding their own leads this season.

What's in store Friday night, when the Blue Jackets return back to Nationwide Arena to face the St. Louis Blues? Looking back, it's the renewal of an old Central Division rivalry. The two teams were pitted against each other 73 times between 2000 and 2013, when they were two of the five teams in the division. Columbus won just 25 of those games, and that losing trend has continued recently with St. Louis winning three of the last four meetings against the Blue Jackets by three goals.

Looking ahead, though? Given the way the Blue Jackets have played lately, it's anyone's guess. Here's the scoop on Columbus' 29th game of the season:

TALKING POINTS: STL

• Columbus' power play is not good; St. Louis' is worse. The Blues have connected on just 9.5% of their man-advantage opportunities this season, second-to-last in the league. That number continues to drift down over the last five games, with just one goal in 13 power play attempts. In part because of the week power play, the Blues are towards the bottom of the league in goals per game (2.88). On the road, that number is even worse: the 2.43 goals they average outside of Missouri is 30th in the league, better than only the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks.
   
• Despite those struggles, the Blues have hovered just above .500. While that may not hold serve for the duration of the season (the advanced metrics do not like the odds of it), they're currently one point out of a wildcard spot in the Western Conference and reasonably should see this as a game they need two points from.

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• It's been a rough year already for the Blue Jackets but had one thing they could hang their hat on was avoiding a true blowout. Through their first 28 games, Columbus had not given up more than five goals in a game. They did that six times last year through the same number of games and would end the season giving up 6+ a total of 16 times. 
  
  That changed Thursday when Columbus allowed seven goals to the Islanders. The four-goal loss was tied for the biggest loss of the season. They've had a lot of things to respond to this season, but this is a new one for first-time head coach Pascal Vincent. 
   
• Adam Fantilli scored twice and added an assist in the loss; it was his second multi-point game and first three-point game for the 19-year-old rookie. He's tied for second (trailing Connor Bedard) in rookie scoring, with 15 points. In a disappointing season, Fantilli has been a glimmer of hope. 
   
• As of early Friday morning, no starting goaltender has been announced. Given the fact that it's the second half of a back-to-back and that Spencer Martin allowed seven goals, don't be surprised if it's Jet Greaves. The 22-year-old stopped 46 of 49 shots last season in his first (and so far, only) NHL game. In 12 games with the Cleveland Monsters this year, Greaves is 9-3-0 with an .899 save percentage and 3.09 goals against average.

Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change
Lines are based on most recent practice/game, injury updates, and club news.