The first game of the Blue Jackets season did not go the way we wanted. The good news: there are 81 more of them to play, beginning tonight as they take on the Wild in Minnesota.
It will be the second road home opener for the Blue Jackets, and in another tough environment. However, the Jackets have fared pretty well in Minnesota historically, with an all-time record of 13-17-5 in the Twin Cities.
As with Nashville, this will be a difficult early season road test. For a team that needs a quick bounce-back performance, it will be important to find their game early and stay on it.
The opponent:
Like the Blue Jackets, the Wild started their season Thursday night, on the road, in a tough building, against a skilled Central Division opponent. Unlike the Blue Jackets, the Wild smacked their opposition into the ground.
They skated to a 5-0 win over the Blues in St Louis, despite being out-shot 26-21 on the night. Their game was a near polar opposite of the Blue Jackets, who dominated the possession and shot battle despite losing in Nashville.
Instead, the Wild capitalized with great efficiency. Their top line was terrific, with wingers Matt Boldy (1g, 2a) and Kirill Kaprizov (3a) each scoring three points; while Ryan Hartman finished with two goals.
Former CBJ first round pick David Jiricek also stood out, finishing with a +3 rating in just over 14 minutes played. The Wild shut out the Blues thanks to 26 saves from goaltender Filip Gustavsson.
Again, the Blue Jackets will have to play a very good out of conference team in a raucous home-opener. Their opponent is what the Jackets aspire to be, in part because of the way their team is managed; and also in part because the current culture in Minnesota was built behind Dean Evason's coaching.
They finished with 97 points last season, and are looking to take yet another step forward this year. This will not be an easy opponent.
Three Wild to watch: Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Jared Spurgeon
Kirill Kaprizov is now the highest paid player in NHL history, after signing an 8-year, $136 million dollar contract to stay in Minnesota just before the season started. He is a dynamic playmaker who will be dangerous whenever he has the puck on his stick.
Matt Boldy is a near perfect fit to play alongside Kaprizov on the top line. With enough skill to keep pace, he also has a big frame and terrific hockey sense. Containing these two is crucial if the Blue Jackets are going to stand any chance at spoiling the Wild's opening night festivities.
Lastly, Jared Spurgeon may be undersized; but he's one of the smartest players in the entire league. He's also one of my favorite to watch. The Wild captain was a long-shot to even make it to the NHL, but is rapidly approaching 1000 career games, all in Minnesota. On both sides of the puck, he's quietly a huge difference maker.
How about the good guys?
It stands to reason that the Jackets will return with the same lineup from Nashville on Thursday night. After all, the team played an outstanding game, only to get shut down by one of the best goaltenders in the league.
The only change we are expecting is in goal, with Elvis Merzlikins likely set to make his season debut. This is the plan Dean Evason put forward earlier this week, and they will stick to it.
#CBJ head coach Dean Evason said post-practice that the Jackets will stick to the plan — Elvis Merzlikins gets the start tomorrow against the Wild.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 10, 2025
Three Blue Jackets to watch: Kirill Marchenko, Mathieu Olivier, Elvis Merzlikins
In the game Thursday night, Kirill Marchenko was all over the ice. He led both teams with 8 shots on goal, and was easily the best player for either side. I'll be watching to see if he can continue with that effort, and maybe get rewarded for it.
Mathieu Olivier was also in the mix, even scoring the apparent go-ahead goal near the end of the second; only to have it called off due to goaltender interference. Look for him to try to make a bigger impact in Minnesota, against a more physically imposing Wild team.
Last but not least, Elvis Merzlikins will be looking to prove himself yet again this year. With his starting job already in serious contention before the season started, Jet Greaves only turned up the heat even more with a stellar performance on Thursday. All eyes will be on #90 on Saturday night.
Three keys to success:
1. Weather the storm. Same key as Thursday night, but it applies again. The Wild are another hungry team playing in their home opener. It's vital for the Jackets to have a strong first 10 minutes.
2. Contain #97. Kirill Kaprizov has already started his season red hot. The Jackets have to find a way to take away time and space from him; and limit his chances.
3. Going to need some saves. Let's be honest: we're all nervous about Elvis Merlzlikins. Until he settles in and proves that he can keep this team in tough matchups, it's going to be a concern. He has the talent, he just needs to keep his wits and make the saves.
It's hard to call an early road trip to the Western Conference "must win", but this one is pretty important for the Blue Jackets. Their early schedule does them no favors, so they have to find a way to win some of these tough matchups. Puck drop is at 8:00 tonight from Minnesota.