Game Preview: Erik Gudbranson Returns To Lineup, Elvis Starts As Blue Jackets Face Canucks
© Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
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VAN
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CBJ
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|---|
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12-13-2
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ROAD / HOME
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10-7-4
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2.63
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GOALS FOR
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2.96
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|
3.59
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GOALS AGAINST
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3.37
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19.6%
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POWER PLAY
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19.0%
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73.1%
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PENALTY KILL
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74.6%
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|
26.7
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SHOTS FOR
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30.6
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29.7
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SHOTS AGAINST
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30.9
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48.1%
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FACEOFF %
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51.1%
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VANCOUVER: LAST THREE GAMES
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SAT, 1/10
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@ Maple Leafs
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L, 5-0
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MON, 1/12
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@ Canadiens
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L, 6-3
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TUE, 1/13
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@ Senators
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L, 2-1
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VANCOUVER: TEAM LEADERS
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GOALS
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Kiefer Sherwood (out)
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17
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ASSISTS
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Filip Hronek
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24
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POINTS
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Elias Pettersson
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28
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ODDS & PROJECTIONS
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|---|
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CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK:
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59%
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CBJ ODDS PER DRAFTKINGS:
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-165
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Seeking a three-game winning streak for the second time in under a month, the Columbus Blue Jackets are on home ice Thursday night for a tilt against the Vancouver Canucks.
It's the second game under new head coach Rick Bowness, who took over Monday for the fired Dean Evason.
Here are five things to know before the 7:00 p.m. puck-drop:
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By four, the Canucks have the fewest points in the NHL. Their 16-25-5 record is both the fewest wins and most losses in the league, and they're 0-6-2 in their last eight games. That said, they're near .500 (12-13-2) on the road. ... Columbus native Kiefer Sherwood, who leads the team with 17 goals, will miss his third straight game. ... Kevin Lankinen will get the start for Vancouver. He's 6-12-4 this season with a 3.34 goals against average and .887 save percentage. ... This is the final game of a six-game road trip for the Canucks, who are playing their fourth game in six nights. After this, it's back to Vancouver for an EIGHT-game (!) homestand.
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Out since October 25th with an upper-body injury, Erik Gudbranson has been activated from Injured Reserve and will be back in the lineup for this game. He's expected to be on the third pairing, opposite of Jake Christiansen. Gudbranson did not have a point in the four games he played this season before going down with the injury. Damon Severson, who missed Tuesday's game with an illness, is also back in the lineup defensively for the Blue Jackets.
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Elvis Merzlikins makes the start, his first in the Bowness era. Merzlikins was in net Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche and allowed four goals in a 4-0 shutout loss to the best team in the league. It was Elvis' first start since December 20th. Merzlikins has allowed three or more goals in 14 of his 15 starts this season.
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Zach Werenski has a point in 15 straight games at home and, in case you missed it, he's now the owner of the two longest home point streaks by a defensemen over the last 33 seasons. What Z is able to do with the puck is truly remarkable.
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No changes are expected to the forward trios. The only lineup adjustments are for the returns of Gudbranson and Severson. Here are the complete projections:
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LW
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C
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RW
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|---|
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4
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Cole Sillinger
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19
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Adam Fantilli
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86
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Kirill Marchenko
|
|
38
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Boone Jenner
|
23
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Sean Monahan
|
91
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Kent Johnson
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|
10
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Dmitri Voronkov
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3
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Charlie Coyle
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24
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Mathieu Olivier
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|
43
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Danton Heinen
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16
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Brendan Gaunce
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82
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Mikael Pyyhtia
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|
LD
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RD
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|---|
|
8
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Zach Werenski
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15
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Dante Fabbro
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|
9
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Ivan Provorov
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78
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Damon Severson
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|
2
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Jake Christiansen
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44
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Erik Gudbranson
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Starting Goalie
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Back-Up
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|---|
|
90
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Elvis Merzlikins
|
73
|
Jet Greaves
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