Game Preview: Blue Jackets Seek Season-High Fifth Straight Victory Saturday Night Versus Blues
© Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
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CBJ
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STL
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12-12-3
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ROAD / HOME
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13-10-6
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3.06
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GOALS FOR
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2.48
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3.26
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GOALS AGAINST
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3.41
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19.7%
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POWER PLAY
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17.0%
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76.5%
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PENALTY KILL
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73.8%
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30.2
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SHOTS FOR
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24.9
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30.5
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SHOTS AGAINST
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27.7
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50.9%
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FACEOFF %
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50.0%
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ST. LOUIS: LAST THREE GAMES
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SAT, 1/24
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vs. Kings
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SOL, 5-4
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TUE, 1/27
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vs. Stars
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L, 4-3
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THU, 1/29
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vs. Panthers
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W, 5-4
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ST. LOUIS: TEAM LEADERS
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GOALS
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Jake Neighbours
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13
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ASSISTS
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Robert Thomas
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22
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POINTS
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Robert Thomas
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33
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ODDS & PROJECTIONS
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CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK:
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54%
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CBJ ODDS PER DRAFTKINGS:
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-108
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Going for their ninth win in ten games, the Columbus Blue Jackets will also be looking for a season-high, fifth straight win Saturday night when they travel to St. Louis to face the Blues.
It's the second leg of a back-to-back for the Blue Jackets, who defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 on Friday night.
Here are five things to know before the 7:00 p.m. puck-drop:
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It's been a tough season for the Blues, who snapped a five-game losing streak Thursday night with a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers. St. Louis is tied for the third-fewest points in the league (49) and have the second-fewest wins (20). ... Scoring has been a big reason why: the Blues average just 2.48 goals per game, second-worst in the league and barely ahead of Calgary (2.47). ... Jordan Binnington was in the starter's net Saturday morning and looks to get the start. The Team Canada goalie has struggled this season, going 8-15-6 with a 3.59 goals against average and .867 save percentage.
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Charlie Coyle's hat trick Friday was part of a four-point night for the veteran winger, who has five goals, four assists, and is +7 in plus/minus over the last three games for the Blue Jackets. He's been the primary catalyst for the Columbus offense under Rick Bowness, and will look to keep it going against the Blues.
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With his pair of assists in the win Friday over Chicago, Zach Werenski set a club record for a defenseman for points in a month with 19 — and this game still to go. Werenski is the only blueliner in franchise history to pick up 15+ points in a month, and he's done that six times since the beginning of the 2024-25 season. With two assists Saturday, he would tie the club record with four consecutive multi-assist games. Artemi Panarin did it in the final four games of the 2017-18 regular season.
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With Elvis Merzlikins in net Friday night, look for Jet Greaves to get the nod in this one. Greaves has won his last four starts and is 16-12-6 this season with a .908 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average.
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There's no practice or morning skate Saturday, so any potential lineup changes won't come until late this afternoon. Here are the complete lineup projections:
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LW
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C
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RW
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17
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Mason Marchment
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19
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Adam Fantilli
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86
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Kirill Marchenko
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38
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Boone Jenner
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23
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Sean Monahan
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91
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Kent Johnson
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4
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Cole Sillinger
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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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10
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Dmitri Voronkov
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21
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Isac Lundesröm
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11
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Miles Wood
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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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78
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Damon Severson
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9
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Ivan Provorov
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5
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Denton Mateychuk
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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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73
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Jet Greaves
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90
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Elvis Merzlikins
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