Game updates, live NHL scores

The Blue Jackets are already running out of healthy bodies, but the ones they have available will face the Minnesota Wild tonight at Nationwide Arena.

It's the second time in nine days they've played, and this game wraps up the two-game season series. Minnesota won the first game 3-2 on Oct. 10 at the Xcel Energy Center. Follow today's action from start to finish with the following updates:

GOAL 12:40, 1st period: Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Wild struck first with 7:20 left in the first period when Marco Rossi scored.

Marcus Foligno caught Damon Severson's backhand clearance attempt in the bottom half of the right circle with his stick and sent the puck to Yakov Trenin for a quick pass that sent Rossi alone into the slot for a wrist shot that beat Tarasov deep to the blocker side for a 1 :0 lead.

9:01, 1st half: Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild combined to strike

After playing each other nine days earlier, the Blue Jackets and Wild both opt to dump pucks into each other's zones, give up the ball and try to force turnovers through the forecheck. This led to a slow offensive start, with Columbus defeating Minnesota 1-0 at 9:01 of the period. A tripping penalty against Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier is likely to be the deciding factor.

1st period: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild is underway

The puck is in the net for the Blue Jackets and Wild at Nationwide Arena, where Adam Fantilli's second line spontaneously faced off against Minnesota's second line, centered by Joel Eriksson Ek – who was out tonight with a full face shield due to a broken nose Plastic plays.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild lineups, scratches and officials

Here are tonight's official lineups, including starters, scratches, coaches and officials.

Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild warm up at Nationwide Arena

Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov and Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson led their teams onto the ice to begin pregame warmups at Nationwide Arena. Without Kent Johnson, who is out long-term with a shoulder injury, the Blue Jackets will rely on a lineup with seven defensemen and 11 forwards, including Jiricek as the seventh defenseman.

Jiricek, as the right wing on the fourth line, attacked the line, which is usually the case with seventh defenders in pregame preparation. I didn't expect him to get roles as a striker. That's probably not until before the game. What's notable, however, is that Zach Aston-Reese has moved up to the second line with Adam Fantilli and Justin Danforth, while James van Riemsdyk is now on the fourth line with Kuraly. Mathieu Olivier, the usual right wing in Kuraly's group, has moved up a line to partner with center Cole Sillinger and left wing Mikael Pyyhtia.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek makes his season debut

Jiricek, who was drafted sixth overall in 2022, struggled defensively in the preseason and considered the first four games a healthy scratch. The offensively gifted young defenseman will get the opportunity to play against the Wild on Saturday and is eager to earn more opportunities.

“It's a business, right?” said Jiricek. “It's hockey, so I hope I earned the opportunity to play today and I just want to prove that I can play here. That’s my point at the moment and I just want to help the team win.”

Changes to the Minnesota Wild's lineup against Columbus Blue Jackets

After Tuesday's 4-1 win in St. Louis, the Wild are bringing center Joel Eriksson Ek (broken nose) and left wing Marcus Johansson (lower body) back into the lineup. Minnesota could also bring center Ryan Hartman back from an undisclosed injury, but then the final decision will be made during the game.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild lineup

Forward

Yegor Chinakhov – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko

James van Riemsdyk – Adam Fantilli – Justin Danforth

Mikael Pyyhtia – Cole Sillinger – Mathieu Olivier

Zach Aston-Reese – Sean Kuraly

Defense pairs

Zach Werenski – Ivan Provorov

Jake Christiansen-Damon Severson

Jordan Harris-Jack Johnson

David Jiricek

goalkeeper

Daniil Tarasov

Jet Greaves

Scratched: F Kevin Labanc

Injured: F Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery), F Kent Johnson (shoulder), G Elvis Merzlikins (upper body), D Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), F Dmitry Voronkov (shoulder), F Gavin Brindley (broken finger)

Projected lineup of Minnesota Wild vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Forward

Kirill Kaprizov – Marco Rossi – Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Johansson – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy

Marcus Foligno – Marat Khusnutdinov – Yakov Trenin

Jakub Lauko – Frederick Gaudreau – Liam Ohgren

Defense pairs

Jacob Middleton-Brock Faber

Jonas Brodin – Zach Bogosian

Jon Merrill – Declan Chisholm

Filip Gustavsson

Marc-André Fleury

Scratched:D Demon Hunt

Injured:D Jared Spurgeon (lower body), Ryan Hartman (upper body)

Where can I watch/listen to the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild game?

TV channels: Bally Sports Ohio
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 97.1 The Fan

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild start time

Date: Saturday, October 19th
Time: 7 p.m
Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

History of the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild series

Series balance: The Blue Jackets have a 32-27-1-7 all-time record, including 2-5-3 in their last 10 and 5-3-2 in their last 10 at Nationwide Arena.
Last meeting: Minnesota won 3-2 in the season opener for both teams on October 10, 2024 in St. Paul, Minnesota, with Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello scoring goals for the Wild. Kent Johnson and Zach Werenski scored for the Blue Jackets, who scored late in the third period to get within one goal and unsuccessfully pushed for an equalizer in the final minutes without their net for a 6-on-5. lead was enough. Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves for the Blue Jackets, while Filip Gustavsson made 31 saves to secure the win in net for the Wild.
Meetings 2024: This concludes the two-game season series.

Betting odds for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild

BetMGM lines and odds as of Saturday, October 19th

Spread: Blue Jackets (+1.5)
Over/Under: 6.5
Money line: Blue Jackets +105, Wild -185

Injury updates for Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild

Columbus has captain Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery), defenseman Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), forward Dmitri Voronkov (shoulder) and rookie forward Gavin Brindley (broken finger) on injured reserve. The Blue Jackets will also be without forward Kent Johnson (shoulder) and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who will miss his second game with a hand/wrist injury that is expected to keep him out for the short term.

Joel Eriksson Ek (broken nose) will return to the Wild's lineup with a full face shield, forward Marcus Johansson will return after a game due to a lower body injury, and center Ryan Hartman (upper body) is on a game-time decision as a defenseman participating in the Morning Skate Jared Spurgeon (lower body) will miss his third game with a lower body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets October 2024 Schedule, Record

Here's a look at the Blue Jackets' schedule for the month of October, along with start times, TV and radio information:

Thursday, October 10th: Blue Jackets at Wild (L, 3-2); Takeaways
Saturday, Oct. 12: Blue Jackets at Avalanche (W, 6-4); Takeaways
Tuesday, October 15th: Blue Jackets vs. Panthers (L, 4-3); Takeaways
Thursday, October 17th: Blue Jackets vs. Sabers (W, 6-4); Takeaways
Saturday, Oct. 19: Blue Jackets vs. Wild | 7 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio | 93.3FM
Tuesday, October 22nd: Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs | 7:30 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio
Saturday, October 26th: Blue Jackets at Predators | 8 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio
Monday, October 28th: Blue Jackets vs Oilers | 7 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio
Wednesday, October 30th: Blue Jackets at Islanders | 7 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio
Record: 1-2-0, in 8th place in the Metropolitan Division

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild records

Records: Blue Jackets 2-2-0, 4 points, in 6th place in Metropolitan Division; Wild 2-0-2, 6 points, in 4th place in Central Division

Johnny Gaudreau's father Guy at the Columbus Blue Jackets' home practice

The Gaudreau brothers' father, Guy, donned a Blue Jackets tracksuit and trained with them as a volunteer coach.

Columbus Blue Jackets news

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