The Columbus Blue Jackets take to the ice on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 7 p.m. ET matchup broadcast across regional and national networks including CBJHN, CBJNHL, NBCSP, and SNP. Both squads enter the contest looking to navigate early-season roster adjustments, with the Blue Jackets holding a 4-5-0 record while the Flyers stand at 3-7-3.
Columbus enters the game with Valeri Nichushkin centering a top line flanked by Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson. The second forward grouping pairs Matthew Knies alongside Charlie Coyle and Mathieu Olivier, while the third line features Sean Monahan, Cole Sillinger, and Conor Garland. Rounding out the forward combinations for the visitors are Dmitri Voronkov, Luca Del Bel Belluz, and Ryan Lomberg.
On the blue line, the Blue Jackets pair Zach Werenski with Damon Severson, Jake Christiansen with Denton Mateychuk, and Dante Fabbro with Erik Gudbranson. Cam Talbot is projected to get the start in net, backed by Jet Greaves. The Columbus scratch list features Carson Soucy, Emil Andrae, and Danton Heinen, while Ivan Provorov and Isac Lundestrom remain sidelined with lower-body injuries.
For Philadelphia, the forward corps features Trevor Zegras centering Christian Dvorak and Noel Acciari. Porter Martone skates with Noah Cates and Matvei Michkov on the second line, while Alex Bump joins Sean Couturier and Tyson Foerster on the third. The fourth line brings together Michael Bunting, Denver Barkey, and Cole Knuble. Bunting is likely to draw back into the lineup after being scratched for the previous two games.
Philadelphia’s defensive pairings feature Travis Sanheim alongside Oliver Bonk, Nick Seeler paired with Jamie Drysdale, and Cam York skating with Hunter McDonald. Dan Vladar is projected to start in goal for the Flyers, with Joseph Woll serving as backup. The Flyers’ scratches include Simon Benoit, David Jiricek, and Jacob Gaucher. Gaucher was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Tuesday after being sent down just two days prior on Sunday.
Several key roster developments shape the availability of both teams ahead of puck drop. Dante Fabbro enters the evening as a game-time decision for Columbus but is fully expected to make his season debut after missing the opening nine games of the year with an upper-body injury. Fabbro was a full participant in the team’s optional morning skate.
For the hosts, Cam York was activated from injured reserve and is set to return to the lineup after missing eight games due to an upper-body injury. However, Philadelphia’s defensive depth took a hit as Rasmus Ristolainen was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Ristolainen is expected to miss at least two weeks after reaggravating the upper-body injury that had previously sidelined him for nine games, an issue that flared back up after he played against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. The Flyers are also managing the absences of Nikita Grebenkin with a back issue, Travis Konecny due to a lower-body injury, and both Owen Tippett and Rasmus Ristolainen with upper-body injuries.
