I like Charlie Coyle a ton as tough, two-way third line center ... but what on Earth is he doing on the first PP as bumper? I just don't understand the decisions this coach and his staff make sometimes. #CBJ

3-0 mid second ... Solovyov, whom I've never heard of in my life, beats Merzlikins low glove with a snipe after Trent Miner, whom I've also never heard of, stopped the #CBJ cold off a rush at the other end.

#CBJ underway out there in Denver vs the #Avs ... currently 0-0 early 1st. Daunting challenge for Columbus in this one. The Avs are making mincemeat of the NHL, especially at Ball Arena. Merzlikins is starting for the first time since Dec. 20 in Anaheim.

I spy a couple guys with #CBJ connections.

With 10:38 left to play here, the Spartans are up 6-2 on the Buckeyes. Lindstrom has an assist, three shots, has won 5-7 draws and is +2. He's also been sent to the box twice and his second penalty led to OSU's second goal on a PP. #CBJ

End of one at The Schott and it's 4-0 Michigan State over Ohio State. #CBJ prospect Cayden Lindstrom (No. 4 overall 2024) set up the first goal with a nice pass to the slot. He's also having success on the forecheck, in general.

Michigan State is ranked No. 2 in the country and has 14 NHL drafted prospects on its roster. Ohio State is unranked and has one NHL drafted prospect. Tough matchup for the Bucks tonight. Feels like the inverse of football.

And in the time it took me to post that last tweet, MSU scored two more goals to lead the Buckeyes 3-0 with 6:14 left in the first. Lindstrom has the primary assist on the first goal with a nice feed from the RW corner to Romani wide open in the slot. #CBJ

College hockey is a stitch. Head ref in charge of reviewing MSU's goal for a missed stoppage just came back from a lengthy delay while presumably viewing replays and said that due to technical issues with the video equipment, the goal stands.

Decided to check out #CBJ prospect Cayden Lindstrom vs OSU at The Schott. He's had a tough start to his collegiate career, but he's starting to put things together. He's centering Michigan State's third line and just set up a goal by #Canucks prospect Anthony Romani, but it's being reviewed.

Elvis Merzlikins didn't play Vegas on Elvis Night. Jet Greaves made his eighth straight start and started for the 13th time in the past 15 games. That's a problem in a season with a grueling, compressed schedule. Time for #CBJ to figure out a solution. www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Third period underway. #CBJ down 4-2 in Vegas.

Here's the aforementioned @naturalstattrick.com fancy stat breakdown after 40 mins in Vegas, VGK up 4-2 ->

Fancy stats via @naturalstattrick.com through two periods show an interesting plot twist. The #CBJ are somehow controlling possession and have created more scoring chances, but they're down 4-2 because they've only beaten Akira Schmid once since he took over following Hart's early injury.

Second period yet again a major problem on the road for the #CBJ ... matchup game on the road still killing them, especially in second periods with the long change. They trail 4-2 in Vegas with 20 mins left.

4-2 Stone a PPG after a weak hooking call on Olivier for a stick lift. #CBJ reeling again, second period.

Eichel with the snipe.

3-2 VGK ... Three unanswered goals allowed by #CBJ since going up 2-0. Make it stop.

And we're tied with a 6-on-5 delayed penalty goal for VGK at 5:19 of the 2nd. Smith from Marner. Second goal and second assist of the game for them respectively. It's 2-2. #CBJ

End of one out in Vegas and it's 2-1 #CBJ over VGK on goals by Jenner and Johnson.

Reilly Smith from Hutton and Marner on the VGK first goal. #CBJ Marner carved the Blue Jackets up, as usual, in the first meeting between these two earlier this season in Columbus.

And there's the #CBJ we know ... very shortly after taking a 2-0 lead in the first, they allow the VGK to get one back. It's now 2-1.

Monahan sets up Johnson and it's 2-0 #CBJ in Vegas. Johnson had just 11 points coming into this game. He needs to crank it up offensively, so maybe he can catch a spark tonight.

Make that Jenner's goal, assisted by Werenski's shot. Either way, it's 1-0 #CBJ in the first out in Vegas.

#CBJ finally get one of those "only in hockey" goals to take a 1-0 lead on a Werenski tally. VGK goalie Carter Hart appeared to twist his left knee making a stop, but play continued despite his obvious injury. Crowd now booing out there. Jackets fans: "Hold our beer."

OK, took my hockey nap and ready for some Left Coast hockey. #CBJ @ Vegas coming up.

Also, also ... I'm reviving the Dispatch Cannon Fodder Podcast with help from fellow sports staffer Dan Aulbach, who filled in for me while I was on a European holiday the past two-plus weeks. Take a listen -> omny.fm/shows/cannon...

Tonight's late night #CBJ broadcast, produced by FanDuel Sports Network, will also be simulcast on CW via cable platforms across the state. www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

And more injury news, albeit one we pretty much knew already ... veteran D Brendan Smith undergoes knee surgery, out 3-4 months. www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

When it rains injuries for the #CBJ ... it pours. It always pours. Marchment now out on IR, week-to-week. Details -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Another #CBJ stumble to open another tough road trip ourt West ... here are the takeaways -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Also, this is the final season of the contract buyout.

The #CBJ are paying Alex Wennberg $891,667 while he carves them up tonight. His 1-1-2 through the first two periods bump his career numbers vs his former team to 7-6-13 in his 17th game againt the Jackets since they bought out his contract in 2021 to create cap space.

The #CBJ are paying Alex Wennberg $891,667 while he carves them up tonight. His 1-1-2 through the first two periods bump his career numbers vs his former team to 7-6-13 in his 17th game againt the Jackets since they bought out his contract in 2021 to create cap space.

Prior to Werenski's goal, the #CBJ were being outshot 17-4 in the second by the Sharks ... aided by FOUR power plays.

End of two in San Jose and the #CBJ are down 2-1 after rallying late in the second to shift momentum on Werenski's goal and Olivier's fight with Reaves.

Olivier and Reaves square off following the ensuing draw ... and that was one violent bout. Olivier started and finished strong, but Reaves got a couple shots in with his long reach. #CBJ

Werenski (who else?) gets one back for the #CBJ late in the 2nd, pulling them within 2-1 of the Sharks.

Another Shark dive by Celebrini, but at least his appeared to include the slightest brush of Jenner's stick blade near his face. Three embellished dives, three PPs for San Jose tonight. #CBJ

Two dives by the Sharks thus far, both lead to PPs after penalties to Severson and Fabbro for playing defense. #CBJ

Wennberg with the PPG has 1-1-2 while giving the Sharks a 2-0 lead over the #CBJ

2-0 #SJSharks PPG 4:04 into the second. Former #CBJ Alex Wennberg absolutely carving up his former team thus far.

End of one out there in San Jose and the Sharks lead the #CBJ 1-0 on Regenda’s late goal.

Sharks strike first with 48.4 left 1st. Regenda with a goal unguarded on a rush to the net to beat Greaves. 1-0 #SJSharks over #CBJ

#CBJ have started their four-game Western roadie, currently tied 0-0 with the Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose. Just killed a Sharks PP after Severson was sent off with what could’ve been called embellishment/diving. Jackets have the edge in shots early, but have zero goals. Sound familiar?

Marchment declared out tonight with an upper-body injury. #CBJ

Busy day already for #CBJ president/GM Don Waddell, who replaced Josh Flynn with a VP of hockey ops and then took a flier on a malcontent former Flyer. On VP hockey ops Laurence Gilman -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports... On D Egor Zemula -> www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Heinen, 30, assigned to Cleveland to start out. #CBJ

It’s STL’s 2026 2nd rd pick and WSH’s 2027 3rd rd pick plus F Danton Heinen from the Penguins to #CBJ for F Yegor Chinakhov. www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Fairly stunned they’d send Chinakhov to Crosby, Malkin and the Penguins in the same division, but that’s happening. Yow. #CBJ