CBJ Gameday Guide: Oct. 14 vs. Arizona

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Columbus New Jackets.
A full 10 of the 20 players who are expected to skate tonight are different from last year's season opener, and five players are set to make their Blue Jackets debuts tonight in the
season opener vs. Arizona at Nationwide Arena
.
That doesn't include head coach Brad Larsen, the longtime CBJ assistant who will make his NHL head coaching debut tonight.

"I slept good last night," Larsen said. "I think I'm like all the players, you just want to get going here."
For those heading down to Nationwide Arena, there will be
plenty of pomp and circumstance
, with a party on the Front Street plaza, presented by Nationwide, beginning at 3 p.m. The life of Matiss Kivlenieks will be honored in a pregame ceremony that will feature his mother, stepfather, sister and aunt.
Limited tickets remain available
, and
click here for FAQs and guidelines
about the return to Nationwide Arena.

3 Keys to the Game

Set the pace: Arizona has one of the oldest rosters in the league, while Columbus has one of the youngest. The Blue Jackets need to use that youthful energy that has been present during the preseason and push the pace.
Got the power: Columbus' power play was lethal during the preseason. After four straight seasons of finishing 25th or worst in the NHL on the man advantage, turning that into a true advantage will be a big key to the season.
Limit mistakes: As in any season opener, the cleanest team is probably going to be the team to win. Avoiding the big flubs will be key in the first time things get real this season.

Notable

At 18 years, 151 days old, Cole Sillinger is set to become just the sixth 18-year-old to play in CBJ history and the fourth-youngest player in franchise history. … Columbus has the youngest opening roster in the NHL at an average of 25.71 years old. … The Blue Jackets have players from 10 different countries on the roster, most in the NHL. … Oliver Bjorkstrand led the Jackets in all offensive categories last year with an 18-26-44 line, a career high in points. … Jack Roslovic is coming off a career-high 34-point season. … Boone Jenner will be the team captain for the first time tonight, and he's the seventh captain in team history. ... Forwards Sillinger, Sean Kuraly and Gregory Hofmann as well as defensemen Adam Boqvist and Jake Bean are expected to make their CBJ debuts, while Sillinger and Hofmann will make their NHL debuts … 299 players have worn the union blue jersey in a game, so those debuts will push the all-time roster over 300. … Coming off an 18-26-12 record that tied for last place in the Central Division, Columbus was 4-2-2 in the preseason. … The Blue Jackets are 8-10-2 all-time in season openers and 7-9-4 in home openers. … The Blue Jackets are 8-2-0 in their last 10 against the Coyotes but Arizona won the last meeting, a 4-2 final on Dec. 3, 2019, in Columbus. ... Columbus will play five of its first six games at home. … There are two former Blue Jackets on the Arizona roster in forward Ryan Dzingel, an Ohio State product, and defenseman Anton Stralman.

Projected Lineup

(Subject to change)
29 Patrik Laine - 42 Alexandre Texier - 93 Jakub Voracek
14 Gustav Nyquist - 96 Jack Roslovic - 28 Oliver Bjorkstrand
38 Boone Jenner - 34 Cole Sillinger - 16 Max Domi
50 Eric Robinson - 7 Sean Kuraly - 15 Gregory Hofmann
8 Zach Werenski - 22 Jake Bean
44 Vladislav Gavrikov - 27 Adam Boqvist
46 Dean Kukan - 2 Andrew Peeke
90 Elvis Merzlikins (confirmed starter)
70 Joonas Korpisalo
Scratches: Yegor Chinakhov, Scott Harrington
Injured Reserve: Emil Bemstrom (oblique; four to six weeks as of Oct. 14)
Roster Report:Larsen said that Merzlikins will be making his first-ever opening night start between the pipes, while Chinakhov is not expected to sit long but the rookie will likely be a healthy scratch tonight. Meanwhile, Bemstrom was placed on injured reserve today.

This day in CBJ history

Oct. 14, 1999: The team unveils its home and road jerseys with broadcaster Mike Emrick presiding over the event. Over 4,000 enthusiastic fans attended the unveiling at the Easton Town Center.
Oct. 14, 2002: Ray Whitney played 27:19, a franchise record for a forward in a regulation game, in the Jackets' 4-2 loss vs. Phoenix.
Oct. 14, 2017: Alexander Wennberg scored in overtime to give Columbus a 5-4 overtime win at Minnesota.