Jackets look to shut down the high-flying Rangers
Blue Jackets vs. Rangers Game Notes
- Pascal Vincent told the media on Friday that forward Kent Johnson will be back in the lineup on Saturday night, after being scratched on opening night.
- Defenseman Zach Werenski was put on IR with a quad contusion, suffered after being kneed by the Flyers Garnet Hathaway. He's expected to miss 1 to 2 weeks.
- As a result of Werenski being put on IR, the CBJ recalled David Jiricek from Cleveland. He made it to Columbus in time for practice on Friday.
- During practice on Friday, Liam Foudy and Kent Johnson were in normal practice mode, while Jack Roslovic, Emil Bemstrom, and Eric Robinson were wearing the extras jerseys at practice. We could see some lineup changes.
- Elvis Merzlikins is the assumed starter against the Rangers
- Mathieu Olivier hasn't been activated off of IR but did practice
The practice lines were jumbled compared to the game on Thursday.
Fantilli-Laine-Texier Marchenko-Jenner-Gaudreau Danforth-Sillinger-Johnson Foudy-Kuraly-Olivier Robinson-Roslovic-Bemstrom
These lines are interesting, but it was just for practice. There is no morning skate, so when coach Vincent has his media availability, we'll get a clearer picture of what is happening on Saturday night.
3 Keys To The Game
- The Jackets need to play with more pace and be more aggressive against the Rangers if they want to win.
- If Elvis Merzlikins can play like he did against the Flyers, he gives the Jackets a chance against a high-scoring Rangers squad.
- The defense will be minus star Zach Werenski, so whether it's Adam Boqvist or David Jiricek that takes his place, they need to step in and try to shut down the Rangers offense and make few mistakes. Both could play if Vincent decides to go with 11F and 7D, this is an option to look out for.
The Jackets play the Rangers at 7 p.m.
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