DECEMBER 31, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 9-9-3 · 6TH IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
9-9-3 · 6TH IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
One night after a thriller, Blue Jackets run out of gas in OT loss to Buffalo The Blue Jackets were slow in their decision making and sloppy in their puck handling and management in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Sabres.
Skinner lifts Sabres to comeback win against Blue Jackets | NHL.com Scores 1:20 into OT to give Buffalo 1st win in 3 games; Tarasov makes 38 saves for Columbus
DECEMBER 31, 2023 • NHL.COM
Adam Fantilli, Daniil Tarasov and Blue Jackets Head Coach Pascal Vincent | Postgame Media (12/30/23)
DECEMBER 31, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Blue Jackets @ Sabres 12/30 | NHL Highlights 2023
DECEMBER 31, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres | FULL Overtime Highlights - December 30, 2023
DECEMBER 31, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Jake Christiansen is set to make his season debut against Buffalo 💪 | Pregame Media (12/30/23)
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Daniil Tarasov - Facing Sabres Tarasov will patrol the visiting crease in Buffalo on Saturday, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Impact Tarasov is 1-2-0 this season, giving up 13 goals on only 88 shots. He missed the start of the season with a knee injury suffered in the offseason and finally made his NHL seasonal debut versus New Jersey on Dec. 16. The Sabres are averaging 30.1 shots on goal per contest, 21st in the league.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Elvis Merzlikins - Unavailable Saturday Merzlikins (illness) didn't travel with the Blue Jackets to Buffalo, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site, so he's not an option for Saturday's game against the Sabr...
Impact Merzlikins exited Friday's 6-5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs after the first period because of the illness. He has a 7-8-6 record, 3.24 GAA and .907 save percentage in 23 contests this season. With Merzlikins unavailable Saturday, Daniil Tarasov is set to start while Spencer Martin will serve as the backup goaltender.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Damon Severson - Two helpers in OT win Severson notched two assists in Friday's 6-5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
Impact His breakout pass to catch Toronto on a bad line change led to a Brendan Gaunce tally in the second period, and Severson then set up Johnny Gaudreau for the OT winner. The points were the first for Severson in three games since returning from an oblique injury, but even with Zach Werenski (ankle) now on IR, he didn't see any meaningful power-play time Friday as Ivan Provorov handled duties on the first unit instead. Without ice time on the man advantage, Severson's fantasy value is limited.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Zach Werenski - Out 4-6 weeks Werenski (ankle) will miss the next 4-6 weeks, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Impact Werenski suffered the injury during the opening period in New Jersey on Wednesday. It's a big blow to the Blue Jackets as Werenski was their top defenseman, as well as their quarterback on the first power play. Werenski has one goal and 24 assists in 34 games this season. He was replaced on the first power-play unit by Ivan Provorov on Friday in a 6-5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
A WILD OT thriller against the Maple Leafs | Game Highlights (12/29/23)
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Brendan Gaunce - Pots first goal Friday Gaunce scored his first goal of the season in Friday's 6-5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
Impact The 29-year-old center took advantage of a bad Toronto line change, converting a 3-on-1 break with a shot that deflected off Ilya Samsonov's shoulder, over the netminder and into the net. Gaunce has been surprisingly productive since his promotion a couple weeks ago, recording three points in five games as he helps fill the holes left by the absences of Sean Kuraly (abdomen) and Boone Jenner (jaw).
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jake Christiansen - Back in bigs Christiansen was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Saturday.
Impact Christiansen was sent to the minors before the start of the 2023-24 campaign. He had five goals and 22 points in 28 AHL games this season. Christiansen spent 24 games with the Blue Jackets last season, accumulating four assists.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Johnny Gaudreau - Three points including OT winner Gaudreau scored the overtime winner and added two assists, one on the power play, in Friday's 6-5 victory over the Maple Leafs.
Impact The Blue Jackets' $68 million man is finally looking like a player worth a sky-high AAV. Gaudreau's game-winner was a slick piece of work, as instead of trying to deflect home a Damon Severson shot from the point, he caught Ilya Samsonov going the wrong way by tapping the puck to his backhand and calmly slotting it into the net. Gaudreau has two three-point performances in the last seven games, a stretch in which the 30-year-old has broken out for three goals and 10 points, and it's perhaps no coincidence that the veteran's revival has come while skating on a line with dynamic rookie Adam Fantilli.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sean Kuraly - Placed on injured reserve Kuraly (abdomen) was put on injured reserve Saturday, retroactive to Dec. 23.
Impact Kuraly was injured when the butt end of his stick hit him below his upper ribs, causing an internal contusion. Kuraly has six goals, five assists, 74 hits and 28 PIM in 35 contests this season. The Blue Jackets recalled blueliner Jake Christiansen from AHL Cleveland to take Kuraly's spot on the roster.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Spencer Martin - Gets win in relief Friday Martin stopped 16 of 19 shots after replacing Elvis Merzlikins (illness) to begin the second period of Friday's 6-5 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
Impact Two of Toronto's three goals against Martin came on power plays, and the 28-year-old netminder held the Leafs off the board completely in the third period to help force OT. Martin hadn't been in the crease at all since Dec. 7 due to the return of Daniil Tarasov and hadn't picked up a win since Nov. 27, but Columbus has been reluctant to expose him to waivers and risk losing the goaltending depth. On the season, Martin has a 3-7-1 record with a 3.62 GAA and .889 save percentage.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Blue Jackets take on the Sabres following overtime win
The Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Buffalo Sabres after the Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtimeDECEMBER 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sabres bring struggling power play into matchup with Jackets If the Buffalo Sabres hope to emerge from their season-long slump, they will need to improve on their power play.The Sabres are tied for 26t...
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
JOHNNY GAUDREAU SCORES IN OT💥, Blue Jackets down the Maple Leafs 6-5 💪| Postgame Media (12/29/23)
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets observations: Goaltending is a problem The Maple Leafs didn't get the saves they needed to make up for their mistakes.
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Gaudreau scores on the rebound to give Blue Jackets 6-5 OT win over Maple Leafs Johnny Gaudreau tapped a rebound past Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov 2:56 into overtime, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple...
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Johnny Gaudreau's OT goal lifts Blue Jackets over Maple Leafs Johnny Gaudreau’s backhand goal 2:56 into overtime gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 6-5 win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday....
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Gaudreau scores in OT, lifts Blue Jackets past Maple Leafs | NHL.com Forward also gets 2 assists for Columbus; Nylander has goal, assist to extend point streak to 13 for Toronto
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • NHL.COM
Johnny Gaudreau scores in overtime as Blue Jackets rally past Maple Leafs 6-5
Johnny Gaudreau scored 2:56 into overtime, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NHL Highlights | Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets - December 29, 2023
DECEMBER 30, 2023 • YOUTUBE
