The Blue Jackets have yet to announce a lineup, with several players game-time decisions.
An important test for the Oilers might be even harder than expected.
That's because we don't yet know what their opponents' lineup will look like.
The Columbus Blue Jackets lineup is still in flux as we approach the opening puck drop on tonight's game, head coach Dean Evason said this morning that multiple players are feeling under the weather and will be game-time decisions.
That leaves us with nothing but conjecture regarding most of the Jackets' lineup. Thankfully, our colleagues at the Blue Jackets site have us covered with their predictions -- still subject to Evason's changes, of course.
Their projected lines feature a surprising change -- Cole Sillinger replacing Yegor Chinakov on the team's top line. The line of Chinakov, Sean Monahan, and Kirill Marchenko has been elite to start the year, with Monahan finding excellent chemistry between the two young Russians. Splitting that trio up would be a puzzling decision by Evason.
One thing we do know about Columbus' lineup is their starting netminder, Elvis Merzlikins. The Latvian goalie has had a difficult time over the past few seasons, with a save percentage of just .888 since 2022-23. He's seemingly lost the starting job to Daniil Tarasov, as he's scheduled to make only his third start in the first eight games.
As for the Oilers, they're expected to ice the same lineup as they did in yesterday's win in Detroit, with Stuart Skinner replacing Calvin Pickard in goal. Skinner is looking to build on his last two starts, over which he's saved 57 of 60 shots. His last game was a 27-save shutout of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
While the Oilers have had their troubles with Columbus in recent years, the goalie matchup favours them. They own a 3-1-0 record against Merzlikins, while Skinner is 2-1-0 against Columbus with a .923 save percentage.
We'll see who's in and who's out for Columbus at puck drop, 5:00 MT, live on Sportsnet West.
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