NHL Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Utah Hockey Club with Line Combinations 1/31/2025

Columbus Blue Jackets (25-19-7, 57 pts) at Utah Hockey Club (21-21-8, 50 pts)

Venue: Delta Center
Date: Friday, January 31
Time: 9:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/FDSN OH/Utah16
Radio:
Columbus – WBNS The Fan 97.1 FM
Utah – The KSL Sports Zone 1280 AM / 97.5 FM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Columbus +1.5 ML +180
Utah -1.5 ML -218
O/U 6.6

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Columbus Blue Jackets News & Notes:

The Blue Jackets picked up their second straight win last night with a 2-1 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights. As they head into the last day of January they are holding the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are 9-3-1 on the month. 

Utah Hockey Club News & Notes:

Utah is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night, it was their third straight loss. They are 5-6-2 in January and sit seven points out of the final wild-cardspot in the Western Conference. 

Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lines:

Voronkov-Fantilli-Marchenko
van Riemsdyk-Sillinger-K. Johnson
Aston-Reese-Belluz-Olivier
Pyyhtia-Kuraly-Danforth

Werenski-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Provorov
Christiansen-Severson

Merzlikins
Tarasov

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Utah Hockey Club Projected Lines: 

Keller-Cooley-Schmaltz
Kerfoot-Hayton-Doan
Crouse-McBain-Carcone
O’Brien-Stenlund-Bjugstad

Sergachev-Marino
Cole-Kesselring
Maatta-Desimone 

Ingram
Vejmelka

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Players To Watch:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski this season has 59 points on 16 goals and 39 assists. He’s faced Utah/Arizona 12 times in his career, recording 11 points on four goals and seven assists; in the two meetings last season he had three points on a goal and two assists. 

Utah Hockey Club 

Josh Doan this season has five points on two goals and three assists. He’s faced Columbus once in his career and that came last season in which he scored two goals. 

Injury Report:

Columbus Blue Jackets

F Sean Monahan – IR F Yegor Chinakhov – IR D Eric Gudbranson – IR F Boone Jenner – IR

Utah Hockey Club

D Robert Bortuzzo – IR                                    D Sean Durzi – IR                                                F Dylan Guenther – IR

Next Game:

Columbus – February 2 at Dallas Stars Utah – February 2 vs St. Louis Blues 

ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris to discuss WHL expansion, Thatcher Demko returning from IR, Gabe Viladri out week-to-week, Gabriel Landeskog a full practice participant, and the NHL referees stopping a goalie fight. Join in on all this and MUCH more!

1. ITR 31: Let Them Fight 01:03:52
2. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
3. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
4. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
5. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33