The CBJ Writer

Yes, I finally have good news!  Probably the best of all, as we now face the New Jersey Devils at home in Nationwide Arena: Zach Werenski has returned!  He has left the Covid-19 Protocol List for the ice, safely, and we're so happy.  Also, major props to the fan who actually got this right, last night on Facebook!  I had hoped he was right, and sure enough it has been confirmed that Christiansen was returned to the Cleveland Monsters, yesterday, ahead of this great news.      We do have an update on Elvis Merzlikins, too.  According to Head Coach Brad Larson he's " getting better".  Turns out he has a "lower body injury", but is on the mend, thankfully.  (from Jeff Svoboda and Head Coach Brad Larson).  We wish him the best.  With this news though, it should come as no surprise to us that Korpisalo will have his third game in a row, tonight, protecting the Blue Jackets net.   One last note, be sure you tune in early to...

I know the title is a bit somber, but I don't lie to my 5th Line.  I may try and make the outlook better than it is, but I do not lie.  Today is another dose of reality from an already beat up tea,.  All via Jeff Svoboda, this is what we now know.   Remember how Alexander Texier has been out all week, with an illness, originally reported as Non-Covid?  Well, sadly he has just tested positive for the virus and placed on the NHL Covid Protocol List.  We wish him the absolute best as he recovers.    Further, we've lost another young forward.  All Brad Larson will say is that Yegor Chinakhov is "banged up", via Jeff Svoboda.  What this means, or how long he could be out is currently unknown.  All we can do is wish him the best as well, and again a speedy return to the ice.  If your a fan of Liam Foudy, again via Jeff Svoboda, it seems that the team is testing him out in place of Chinakhov.  I'd say it is incredibly likely...

In the home of the New Jersey Devils, the Blue Jackets lost a fairly close game.  In Period 1, just 0:51 in, Tatar would score for the Devils.  However, at 4:54, Domi would find the net for the Blue Jackets.  At the end of 1 the score would be 1-1.   Period 2 we'd see a lot of great Defense.  Many great shots were taken, but there were also so many great saves, from both goaltenders.  No goals in the second twenty minutes.   Period 3 though, the Devils would finally make good.  At 1:16 Bratt would score for the Devils, and then at 18:40 Hughes would find the empty net, again for the Devils.  The final tonight would be a 3-1, Devils win.   With that being said, this is easily the most cohesive game this team has played for a while.  Again, this team is still missing several components, and we must keep that in mind.  As for Korpisalo, only two goals tonight, that is a huge improvement from last games 7 against the...

I say a huge congratulations to Jake Voracek tonight, as he prepares to play is 1,000 NHL game.  With the 2007, first round draft pick, the Columbus Blue Jacket welcomed him to the team.  In his first NHL campagna of 2008-09, he had a staggering 38 points.  This consisted of 9 goals and 29 assists in an 80 game stretchy for him.  It was a great fit for a while but he then left us for the Philadelphia Flyers.  This past summer the Blue Jackets traded Forward Cam Atkinson and acquired Voracek back.  It was a good deal as this man should celebrate this milestone where it all began, Columbus.   This season he has 23 points already, with 1 goal and 22 assists, in just 31 games.  At age thirty-two, it seems he ages like a fine wine.  His skill is still on point, and it's so great to see him in a Blue Jackets jersey on such a big night for his career.  A career I don't see ending anytime soon!   Congrats to you, Jake Voracek!...

So, we have a few switch up for tonight, and also a few things which will remain the same.  Let's start with the changeups.   Changes: Jake Bean sat out the last CBJ game, against the Lighting, due to a Non-Covid illness.  Tonight, he will return!  We'll also see another player take the ice for his very first NHL game tonight; that of Jake Christiansen.  I wish him the best of luck tonight in his Defensive debut.  With these two players going in, of course, two players must sit out.  According to Jeff Svoboda, those tow will be Carlsson and Harrington.     What We Know: We also know the Goaltending situation for tonight.  Korpisalo will be between the goalposts, again.  Now, before we all start judging him, keep in mind that Head Coach Brad Larson had no choice but to put him in last game.  That game just happened to be against the defending, back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Further, ...

A Recap After last night's loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 7-2, we look forward to playing the New Jersey Devils tomorrow.  It was a loss, a big one, but it isn't hard to swallow when you consider the number of players out for multiple reasons.  Some men, like Werenski, are out and on Covid-19 Protocol Isolation.  You then have other players, like Bean and Texier, who are both ill but it isn't related to the Covid-19 ailment.  Then you have other, other players, like Tarasov and Merzlikins who are just simply injured.  It's not an ideal situation, and as I said last night, a 7-2 final over the back-to-back Cup Champions seems decent, especially considering everything above.   Today's Practice: Bad News  We'll start with the bad news so we can end this blog post on a high note.  The biggest bad news of them all is likely that Cole Sillinger sat out of practice today, Jeff Svoboda reported.  Further, he mentioned to the same reporter that...

At 4:53 and 9:30 we had two scores from Lightning's Palat.  Then, Period 1 would be capped off with another Lightning goal, at 17:27, from Perry.  The Blue Jackets would have no answer to the Lightning, yet.   Wait till Period 2 though when Kukan, on his first night back in months from a broken wrist, would find that Lightning goal.  It would be very early, at just 0:37 in.  Unfortunately, Point would find the net again, quickly, for the Lightning.  His goal would come at 1:36.  At 4:16 another Blue Jacket would find that Lightning net though, a Blue Jacket by the name of Nyquist!  This would make the score 4-2.  The Lightning would find the goal, yet again, at 12:19 though, this time by way of Maroon.  At the end of 2 periods of hockey, we'd have a 5-2 Lightning lead.   In Period 3, the Lightning's Bellamare would get a lucky goal, as the puck bounced off a Blue Jacket helmet and went in.  This goal would be at 0:36....