After splitting two games to start the season on the road, it’s time for the Blue Jackets (1-1-0) to play their home opener.
The Jackets will begin the celebration of their 25th anniversary by hosting the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, where they’ll get an early start to Metropolitan Division play.
Jet Greaves, after starting the season opener in a 2-1 loss Oct. 9 in Nashville, will get back in net against the Devils (1-1-0). The only other lineup change will be on the third defense pairing, where Jake Christiansen will make his season debut as a replacement for the injured Erik Gudbranson (upper body).
“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Christiansen said. “I haven’t really thought about getting an opportunity, though, as much as I’ve just tried to go out and be the best version of myself in practice, and then whatever happens (with lineup decisions) happens.”
Christiansen skated on the left side of the third pairing with Denton Mateychuk, who’ll slide over to play the right.
New Jersey will start goalie Jake Allen and rookie forward Brian Halonen will make his season debut replacing injured Zack MacEwen on the fourth line. The Devils are also without left wing Evgenii Dadonov, who’s on injured reserve after sustaining a fractured hand in their season opener.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson to miss first game
Gudbranson, 33, was injured on his first shift in the third period in the Blue Jackets’ 7-4 victory Oct. 11 at the Minnesota Wild. It happened five seconds after the ensuing faceoff following a goal by Zach Werenski 1:11 into the third period. Gudbranson sent a pass up the ice before Wild power forward Marcus Foligno delivered a big hit that drove him into the boards and out of the game.
Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason didn’t provide details on the injury, but it sounds like a day-to-day issue. Evason also said after the game the Blue Jackets “didn’t like” Foligno’s hit, which wasn’t penalized.
Here’s a look at each projected lineups for the Blue Jackets and Devils:
Here is how the Blue Jackets are expected to line up in their home opener against the Devils:
Forwards
Dmitri Voronkov – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko
Boone Jenner – Adam Fantilli – Cole Sillinger
Kent Johnson – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier
Zach Aston-Reese – Isac Lundestrom – Miles Wood
Defensemen
Zach Werenski – Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov – Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen – Denton Mateychuk
Goalies
Jet Greaves
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratched: F Yegor Chinakhov
Injured: D Erik Gudbranson (upper body)
New Jersey Devils lineup at Columbus Blue Jackets
Here is how the Devils are expected to line up against the Blue Jackets:
Forwards
Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer
Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Connor Brown
Paul Cotter – Luke Glendening – Brian Halonen
Defensemen
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec
Goalies
Jake Allen
Jacob Markstrom
Scratched: D Dennis Cholowski, C Juho Lammiko
Injured: LW Evgenii Dadonov (Hand)
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social