Wennberg has nine points (one goal, eight assists), and showed some chemistry with linemates Artemi Panarin and Oliver Bjorkstrand against the Red Wings. It was the first time those three played together.
Bjorkstrand and Panarin connected 1:07 into the game to give Columbus a 1-0 lead, and the trio had the puck a lot.
"Those guys are fun to play with," Bjorkstrand said. "They're smart players and make good plays. It was the first time I've played with Panarin on the line, so he's obviously a good player. It gives me more space to find an open area, and if you do, I feel like he can give the puck to you. If you have one good game together, you'd like to keep it going, so that's unfortunate [about Wennberg]."
Wennberg's absence clears a path back to the active lineup for rookie Sonny Milano, who's been scratched the past two games. The Blue Jackets have used seven defensemen and 11 forwards recently, but might go back to the normal setup with 12 forwards now that Schroeder is back. Rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois is moving back to center for this game, which would could mean he and Schroeder will center the third and fourth lines.
SERIES RECORD
2017-18 Season: (0-0-0). This is the first of three games this season. The Blue Jackets will play again in Montreal on Nov. 27 and host the Canadiens Mar. 12.
All-time: 11-9-3 overall; 6-5-2 in Montreal
"BY THE NUMBERS"
EYES ON: THE BLUE JACKETS
EYES ON: THE CANADIENS
QUOTABLES
"That's the bottom line … swagger, man. Playing relaxed, playing with a little bit of arrogance, a little bit of cockiness, in a good way." - Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson, on how he thinks Columbus needs to play this season.
"We're going to face some tougher [stuff] than this, losing a few games. We're not used to it around here. We didn't lose three straight until the end of last year." - Tortorella, on the Blue Jackets facing adversity early on this season
"Look at how hard we play against the elite teams in the league. We have to start realizing we're one of them, and that's not to be arrogant. It's just the reality of what we've grown into here. Be proud of that, but know how hard it is to win." -Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BLUE JACKETS
Forward lines (12)
Boone Jenner - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson
Artemi Panarin - Nick Foligno - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Tyler Motte - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Josh Anderson
Sonny Milano - Jordan Schroeder - Markus Hannikainen
Defense pairings (6)
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Jack Johnson - David Savard
Ryan Murray - Markus Nutivaara
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Others:Scott Harrington, Gabriel Carlsson, Alex Wennberg (injury, day to day)
Injured reserve:Lukas Sedlak (ankle), Matt Calvert (upper body), Zac Dalpe (upper body)
Lineup notes:Tortorella has gone with seven defensemen and 11 forwards the past three games, and could decide to do so again. If so, look for Carlsson or Harrington to play as the seventh defenseman.
CANADIENS
Forward lines (12)
Alex Galchenyuk - Jonathan Drouin - Arturri Lehkonen
Max Pacioretty - Phillip Danault - Andrew Shaw
Paul Byron - Tomas Plekanec - Brendan Gallagher
Charle Hudon - Jacob De La Rose - Byron Froese
Defense pairings (6)
Jordie Benn - Shea Weber
Karl Alzner - Jeff Petry
Victor Mete - Joe Morrow
Goaltenders
Charlie Lindgren
Zach Fucale
Others: Al Montoya (upper body), Torrey Mitchell, Brandon Davidson
Injured reserve: Carey Price (lower body), Ales Hemsky (concussion-like symptoms), Nikita Scherbak (hand), David Schlemko (hand)
