BREAKING NEWS, HC Larson Returns, AC Pascal In Protocol, Werenski In, Chinakhov Out And Somehow More

So, today is like a taco folks.  We've lost a few add ins, gained a few main ingredients back and I'm hopeful this will be a winning dish!  First and foremost our Head Coach has returned!  To me he's like your hard or soft shelf.  Without him it's kind of a salad situation, good but at times a bit scattered.  After his precautionary placement in the NHL Covid Protocol he will lead the team tonight.  Good to see him back.  With this team though, there isn't good news without some bad.  Sadly, Assistant Coach Vincent, who took over as Head Coach while Larson was out, has now found himself on the Covid Protocol List.  Wishing him the very best.  

Now, let's get into the players.  I'm not saying Zach Werenski is the meat in this taco alone, but he is an element of this taco base.  He was hit with a hard check a week ago Saturday, when this team played the Wild in Minnesota.  He will play tonight and I'm so happy to see him back.  Going to the Islanders game last Tuesday, I constantly looked for him even though I knew he was out.  He's a big part of this team and his Defense is invaluable.  Regarding the hit, Werenski said this today to Jeff Svoboda.  "It was a good hit, a good hockey play."  So, there you go, the official call from the player himself.  

Again, with the good comes the bad. Yesterday an Emergency Recall was made between the Columbus Blue Jackets and AHL Cleveland Monsters.  Meyer was brought down but no reason was given, until now.  Apparently it was discovered between Boston on Saturday and yesterday's travel day that Chinakhov had an upper body injury.  So, Meyer will have his NHL debut tonight.  

Regarding the Defense again, we'll see Kukan and Bayreuther as healthy scratches tonight.  This is due to Werenski returning.  Also, Christensen will join the D-Line tonight also.  He came from Cleveland with Meyer yesterday and it should be fun to watch him play again.  In his visits to Columbus this season he's done very well, I expect the same tonight against the Bruins in Nationwide Arena.  To finish the taco analogy right, we have some components coming back and some brand new add ins tonight.  It should be a good game and better yet, I feel a W coming for this taco combo!

Remember, tonight's game is on Bally Sports.  Game start will be at 7:00 PM EST, while pregame will start at 6:30 PM EST.  Foligno will be back tonight as well, but this will be his second time back.  His first was the night of Rick Nash's Jersey Retirement.  The Blue Jackets lost that night 5-4 in a Shootout.  Buckle up Bruins, it's time for some payback!        

Last note, Merzlikins defends the Blue Jackets net again tonight!    

Go CBJ!     

Sources:

Jeff Svoboda Tweets:

1)  " #CBJ head coach Brad Larsen is also back on the ice after being out for COVID protocol since last Tuesday"

2 "#CBJ associate coach Pascal Vincent is also now in COVID protocol. So Lars is back but Vincent is out, leaving Kenny McCudden and Jared Boll to run the forwards and D, respectively, tonight.

3 "#CBJ D Zach Werenski said he probably could have played Saturday in Boston but didn't feel the need to rush back. Says the hit from Jacob Middleton that knocked him out in Minnesota was "a good hit, a good hockey play."

4 "Brad Larsen says “I feel great” as he addresses the media. Also says it’s good to be back with the team.

Carson Meyer goes in for Yegor Chinakhov (upper body). Werenski and Christiansen in for Kukan and Bayreuther. Merzlikins in net. #CBJ


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