© Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
DET
CBJ
5-5-1
ROAD / HOME
5-3-3
2.96
GOALS FOR
2.88
3.41
GOALS AGAINST
3.23
21.6%
POWER PLAY
16.4%
79.5%
PENALTY KILL
74.2%
30.4
SHOTS FOR
30.3
26.8
SHOTS AGAINST
30.9
52.5%
FACE-OFFS
50.8%
DETROIT: LAST THREE GAMES
FRI, 11/28
vs. Lightning
L, 6-3
SAT, 11/29
@ Bruins
SOL, 3-2
TUE, 12/2
vs. Bruins
W, 5-4
DETROIT: TEAM LEADERS
GOALS
Dylan Larkin
14
ASSISTS
Lucas Raymond
20
POINTS
Dylan Larkin
30
ODDS & PROJECTIONS
CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK:
51%
CBJ ODDS PER BETMGM:
-120
After a spirited affair Monday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on home ice Thursday when they face the Detroit Red Wings for the second time this season.
The first meeting went the Red Wings way in a 4-3 overtime win for Detroit on November 22nd. Columbus had a two-goal lead in the third period before the eventual loss.
Here are five things to know before the 7:30 p.m. puck-drop:
This is the first of a season long six-game road trip for the Red Wings, who ended a four-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins.
Elvis Merzlikins gets his second consecutive start in net for the first time this season. He was more than solid in Monday’s win over the Devils, stopping 30 of 33 New Jersey shots on goal and going 28-of-29 in even-strength save chances.
Kirill Marchenko is back in the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Even without a point in his last three games before being sidelined, Marchenko has 22 points in 22 games — a point-a-game player whose presence was sorely missed.
Several milestones are in play in this game: Dmitri Voronkov is one away from his 100th NHL point and Adam Fantilli needs two to hit that same mark. Elvis Merzlikins is seeking his 100th career NHL win, and Dean Evason can collect his 200th win as an NHL head coach with a Blue Jackets victory.
Marchenko is right back in the top of the lineup, with Kent Johnson playing on the second line alongside Cole Sillinger and Sean Monahan. Luca Del Bel Belluz, recalled by Columbus on Wednesday, takes the fourth line center spot between Brendan Gaunce and Yegor Chinakhov. Here are the complete projections:
LW
C
RW
10
Dmitri Voronkov
19
Adam Fantilli
86
Kirill Marchenko
4
Cole Sillinger
23
Sean Monahan
91
Kent Johnson
11
Miles Wood
3
Charlie Coyle
21
Isac Lundestrom
16
Brendan Gaunce
65
Luca Del Bel Belluz
59
Yegor Chinakhov
LD
RD
8
Zach Werenski
9
Ivan Provorov
5
Denton Mateychuk
78
Damon Severson
7
Brendan Smith
15
Dante Fabbro
Starting Goalie
Back-Up
90
Elvis Merzlikins
73
Jet Greaves
