Wild at Blue Jackets game preview: Broadcast info, statistics and analysis
Sarah McLellan's breakdown: Both teams are dealing with a glut of injuries as the Wild try to break their three-game losing streak.
January 5, 2024 at 11:45PM
at Columbus Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena, 6 p.m. Saturday
TV; radio: BSN; 100.3 FM
Stats and analytics: Tap here.
Sarah McLellan's preview:
Opening bell: The Blue Jackets can relate to what the Wild are going through. They're also dealing with a glut of injuries, with their leading goal scorer and one of their top producers among their six players sidelined. But Columbus (13-19-8) is handling the adversity better than the Wild have lately. While the Wild (16-17-4) have lost four in a row, the Blue Jackets have picked up at least a point in four of their past five.
Watch him: Blue Jackets C Adam Fantilli is having a solid rookie season after getting drafted third overall last summer. Fantilli's 11 goals are tied with the Wild's Marco Rossi for second among NHL first-year players, and his 24 points are second (one point ahead of Rossi). The former Michigan standout has a point in five of his last six games.
Injuries: Wild D Jonas Brodin (upper body), LW Marcus Foligno (lower body), G Filip Gustavsson (lower body), LW Kirill Kaprizov (upper body), RW Vinni Lettieri (lower body) and D Jared Spurgeon (lower body). Blue Jackets D Nick Blankenburg (upper body), D Adam Boqvist (shoulder), C Boone Jenner (fractured jaw), C Sean Kuraly (abdominal), LW Patrik Laine (clavicle fracture) and D Zach Werenski (ankle).
Forecast: Columbus outlasted the Wild in overtime earlier this season, and the Blue Jackets have been competitive lately; four of the their last five games have been decided past regulation. But what could help the Wild is urgency to snap their losing streak and finally get G Marc-Andre Fleury to 551 career wins. That would tie him with Patrick Roy for the second-most victories in NHL history.
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