Columbus Blue Jackets Moving Lines Ahead Of Tonight's Home Opener: Finding A Way Without Laine- 10/14/22

Back in May, this night couldn't come soon enough.  It's the start of a brand-new NHL Season and the excitement which comes with it.  For the Blue Jackets we all expected Patrik Laine to be a big part of Opening Night, but alas that won't be the case.  As many of you know and I posted yesterday, he suffered a sprained elbow in Game 1, against the Carolina Hurricanes.  Thankfully it wasn't a break.  He will miss 3-4 weeks, putting his ability to play in Finland, in early November, at risk.  However, until that verdict is made 5th Line, I hope for the very best and that he can play when his home country hosts the NHL Global Series 2022.  

Without Laine we do have some movement on lines, which is why I'm writing this post.  When Laine was injured, it was an on-the-spot decision as to who would take his vital top-line spot.  Nothing connected that night, and this is understandable; who expects one of the stars to go out in Game 1 after all?  Just rotten luck.  With time to regroup, Head Coach Brad Larson has flipped around a few players and also brought one back.  First, the flip around, Justin Danforth played on Line at Carolina Wednesday.  He will now move up, making Line 1 Johnny Gaudreau-Boone Jenner-Justin Danforth.  

Now yesterday, shortly before the Patrik Laine injury announcement, the team reversed the trade done Wednesday morning.  This game us Goalie Jet Greaves and sent Kent Johnson temporarily to the Cleveland Monsters.  This happened because Elvis Merzlikins was too ill to play that evening. Now we have Johnson back and the lines today at practice are likely to hold for this evening, I think, meaning Johnson will go right into Danforth's Line 3 slot.  Poof, all good!  (Full list of lines from Jeff Svoboda's Twitter page in source section below.)

As for Goalies, Merzlikins is on the mend, but he will not start tonight.  Instead, Tarasov will get another starting crack at net, while Merzlikins will wait in the wings, just in case.  Tarasov did well in Carolina.  If he doesn't lose sight of the puck and the opponent doesn't get close enough to him, without a defender, to tip in the puck, all should go well.  I know, easier said than done, especially against the Tampa Bay Lighting.  However, with the 5th Line at full strength, I have every faith tonight can be accomplished and our first mark in the win column!  

Go CBJ!  

Sources:

Jeff Svoboda Tweet's on 10/14/2022.

1)  "#CBJ lines today at morning skate:

Gaudreau-Jenner-Danforth Chinakhov-Roslovic-Voracek Nyquist-Sillinger-Johnson Robinson-Kuraly-Olivier Werenski-Boqvist Gavrikov-Peeke Bean-Gudbranson"

2) "Daniil Tarasov in the net for #CBJ tonight, head coach Brad Larsen says. Elvis Merzlikins will be the backup."

Continued Tweet: "Larsen said with the practice time Merzlikins missed because of his illness, it makes sense for Tarasov to go again. Larsen also confirmed Kent Johnson goes in with Laine out. Said he has to be the most excited guy in the room to get the opportunity. #CBJ"