Game Preview: Blue Jackets, Golden Knights Meet Monday Night For The First Time This Season

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

33-21-7 (73 pts; .598%) 3rd, Pacific Division ROSTER SCHEDULE

7:00 P.M. – MONDAY, MARCH 4 NATIONWIDE ARENA  COLUMBUS, OH

TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play (Out of Market)

It's been over 100 days since the Columbus Blue Jackets have won consecutive games, but that can change Monday night as they test their luck against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Blue Jackets defeated the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, completing their two-game season sweep of Connor Bedard's group. If they can win Monday, it'll mark the first time since late November that they won back-to-back games.

The Golden Knights are one of three teams the Blue Jackets are yet to face this season; Columbus will host the Nashville Predators on Saturday in the teams first meeting of the season, and they'll travel to Colorado later this month for the first of two with the Avalanche.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets and Golden Knights go into a colorful battle Monday night at Nationwide Arena:

TALKING POINTS: VGK

• Vegas is likely to come in Monday with a bit of angst. Their loss Saturday to the Buffalo Sabres was their worst of the season: a 7-2, five-goal drubbing against a team that is not competing for a playoff spot. Buffalo scored multiple times short-handed, Vegas gave up the last five goals of the game, and it was not the result the Golden Knights wanted or needed as they jockey for playoff positioning on their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup Champs. Columbus will be the final stop of a five-game road trip for the Golden Knights. They're 1-2-1 thus far and have allowed 18 goals — seven to the aforementioned Sabres.
   
• It was announced last week that Mark Stone would miss the remainder of the regular season (and potentially playoff time) with a lacerated spleen. Stone leads the team in assists (37) and is tied for the team lead in points (53). 
   
• Despite one of the better records in the league, nothing really jumps out statistically as something the Golden Knights excel in. Of goals for, goals allowed, power play percentage, and penalty kill percentage, Vegas is top ten in only one: they allow 2.90 goals per game, 10th best in the NHL. 

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• Five different Blue Jackets scored in the 5-2 win Saturday, including Cole Sillinger. It was his third consecutive game with a goal and was his 11th of the season. Sillinger, in his third season, might be turning a corner and becoming the player many thought he had the potential to be when the Blue Jackets selected him 12th overall in 2021. It feels like he's been around forever, but he's still not old enough to (legally) drink and won't be until the offseason.
   
• With the trade deadline Friday, scouts will be closely watching performances from players like Jack Roslovic and Ivan Provorov, amongst others. Any injury this week could throw a wrench in whatever Columbus' deadline plans are.
   
• The Blue Jackets announced a pair of roster moves Sunday; goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is day-to-day with — let's be honest — whatever it is this time. Jet Graves has been recalled from Cleveland and will back-up Daniil Tarasov, who is expected to get the nod between the pipes. The more substantial news is that Kent Johnson will miss the remainder of the season with a torn labrum. Here's to a speedy recovery for Johnson, who is surely aiming to be ready for camp late this summer. With those moves in mind, here are the projected lineups for Monday: