The Columbus Blue Jackets return home to Nationwide Arena to face the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Coming off a 2-1 shootout win against the Seattle Kraken, Columbus begins a three-game homestand with a record of 8-7-1. Edmonton enters at 8-6-4, looking to build momentum after recent overtime victories.
After a challenging five-game road trip that covered approximately 6,500 miles, the Blue Jackets earned three of eight possible points, including a hard-fought 2-1 shootout victory over the Kraken on Tuesday. Adam Fantilli tied the game with a power-play goal in the second period, and the teams remained scoreless through the third and overtime. Kirill Marchenko and Charlie Coyle then scored in the shootout, with Coyle securing his 11th career shootout winner.
"Not every road trip is going to go as planned," Coyle said. "We can correct some things and learn from it, but to battle back like that and get three out of four points in the last two, it depends on how you look at it."
Zach Werenski highlighted the importance of the win: "I feel like our record on this trip probably wasn’t reflective of how we played, but at the end of the day, you have to get points in this league."
Injuries impact Columbus, with captain Boone Jenner sidelined for a significant period after leaving the Seattle game, and Erik Gudbranson on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Jet Greaves is set for his third straight start in net, while Elvis Merzlikins approaches 100 career wins with 98.
Key performers include Marchenko on a nine-game point streak (3-8-11) and Fantilli with goals in two straight games (2-3-5 over three). Defensemen have scored 12 goals, leading the NHL, with Werenski tied for third among blueliners with four goals.
The Oilers, coached by Kris Knoblauch, have reached the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons but lost both to Florida. Connor McDavid leads with 25 points (7-18-25), tied for fourth in the NHL, while Leon Draisaitl has 18 points (10-8-18). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is out with injury, and Calvin Pickard is likely to start in goal (2-2-1, 4.00 GAA).
Columbus has won four straight home games against Edmonton, including a 6-1 victory last season. Former Blue Jacket Jack Roslovic has 5-6-11 in 16 games for the Oilers, including overtime winners in his last two.
Key Stats
- Blue Jackets: Goals from defensemen in 10 of 16 games.
- Oilers: Power play at 31.3 percent (third in NHL).