Brooke: If you think the Blue Jackets’ road trip through the East was brutal, buckle up. We’re about to talk about a test that makes last night’s loss to Carolina look like a warm-up. But first, welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, America’s number one daily sports podcast network.
Tony: Hey everyone, Tony here. It’s Halloween Eve, and the stakes in the NHL are getting higher every single day. The Jackets are sitting at 5-and-6, staring down a 7-and-5-and-1 Dallas Stars team on the road tonight.
Brooke: That’s right. We’ve got three big things for you today. First, we break down why that 3-to-2 loss to Carolina wasn’t as bad as it looked on the scoreboard. Second, we look at the injury report—Taylor Hall is out, Jordan Staal is on IR—and what that means for the lineup. And third, we give you our keys to stopping the Stars' offense. Let’s get into it.
Brooke: Tony, let’s start with the elephant in the room. Last night, the Hurricanes beat us 3-to-2. You predicted a Carolina win in regulation, and I called an overtime battle. What actually happened?
Tony: Well, my prediction was closer than yours in terms of the final score, but honestly? The game felt like it could have gone either way until the third period. Mark Jankowski scored that go-ahead goal, and Pyotr Kochetkov made twenty-four saves. That’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re trying to build momentum.
Brooke: But remember, Kent Johnson had two goals. He was lighting it up. Why didn’t that carry over to more points?
Tony: Johnson was fantastic. He finished with a point on the night, obviously, but Carolina’s forecheck was relentless. They forced Columbus into bad neutral-zone turnovers. Every time the Jackets tried to carry the puck in, they were met with pressure. That’s the story of this five-and-six record. Great individual moments, but systemic struggles against top-tier teams.
Brooke: So, we’re heading into Dallas tonight. The Stars are seven-and-five-and-one. They’re in the Central Division, we’re in the Metropolitan. Non-conference matchups can be tricky because the styles clash differently. What’s the biggest storyline here?
Tony: The biggest storyline is special teams. Dallas is a well-coached machine. If Columbus gives them power-play opportunities, it’s going to be a long night. We saw a little bit of that against Carolina. The penalty kill needs to be sharper. You can’t afford to give up easy zone entries.
Brooke: And we’re not just talking about penalties. We’re talking about discipline. Taylor Hall is out again. Alexander Nikishin is out. Jordan Staal is on injured reserve. That’s a lot of missing pieces for a team already fighting to find its identity.
Tony: Exactly. When you lose veterans like Staal and Hall, you lose face-off wins and defensive zone coverage experience. Against a team like Dallas, who knows how to exploit mismatches, that’s dangerous. The young guys have to step up, but they also have to play smart hockey.
Brooke: Smart hockey. That’s the key phrase. Okay, stick with us. We’re coming up with a deep dive on who is actually playing tonight, and whether Adam Fantilli can single-handedly change the tide. Don’t go anywhere.
Brooke: Welcome back. Let’s talk roster construction. With all these injuries, who is starting tonight for Columbus? Who gets the nod in net?
Tony: It’s likely Jet Greaves or Cam Talbot in net. Given the consistency issues, Talbot might get the start if he’s healthy, but Greaves has been pushing hard. Either way, the goaltending needs to be elite tonight. Dallas scores a lot of goals.
Brooke: On the blue line, Zach Werenski is still there, obviously. Ivan Provorov too. But Dante Fabbro and Jake Christiansen are seeing more ice time. How do those pairings look?
Tony: Christiansen played well last night, getting an assist. He’s quiet, reliable. But against Dallas’s speed, you need size and grit. Erik Gudbranson provides that physicality. I’d expect to see Gudbranson paired with someone mobile to balance the pairings. Denton Mateychuk is another guy who has shown flashes of offensive upside.
Brooke: Let’s talk forwards. Kent Johnson is clearly the leader right now. But where does Adam Fantilli fit in? He’s been a topic of conversation since draft day. Is he ready for this level?
Tony: Fantilli is talented, no doubt. But he’s still adjusting to the pace of the NHL. He needs to learn how to win board battles. Dallas doesn’t care about your potential; they care about who wins the puck along the wall. If Fantilli can’t handle the physical aspect, he’ll be benched.
Brooke: So, maybe Sean Monahan or Charlie Coyle sees more time? Those are the veteran leaders.
Tony: Coyle is essential for face-offs. If you’re losing draws in the offensive zone, you’re not generating high-danger chances. Monahan brings scoring touch. But honestly, I’m looking at Conor Garland and Valeri Nichushkin on the wings. They provide the skill to stretch the ice.
Brooke: Garland and Nichushkin. Two dynamic players. If they get open space, they can hurt Dallas. But can they get open space? That’s the question.
Tony: Only if the defensemen make good decisions. No dump-and-chase. You have to enter the zone with control. That’s been a struggle all season. Zone entries are critical against a team like Dallas that loves to counter-attack.
Brooke: Right. So, it’s not just about having the talent; it’s about executing the basics. Injuries to Hall and Staal mean less experience, which means more mistakes. It’s a tough ask for the coaching staff.
Tony: It is. But sometimes adversity breeds creativity. Maybe this is the moment where a younger player breaks out. Who knows? But the margin for error is zero tonight.
Brooke: Zero margin for error. Got it. Okay, before we wrap up our analysis, I want to hear your bold prediction. We talked about Carolina last time, and now we’re looking at Dallas. Where do you see this going?
Tony: I’m sticking with my guns from yesterday. I said Dallas would win comfortably, 5-to-2. I stand by that. Their depth is too much, and Columbus’s defense is too compromised. I think Dallas scores early and puts the game away.
Brooke: Wow. Five-to-two. That’s a heavy hit. I’m going to disagree slightly. I think it’s closer. I’m predicting a four-to-three loss for Columbus. They’ll score, they’ll fight, but ultimately, Dallas pulls it out. But it’ll be a game.
Tony: Four-to-three. You’re being optimistic. But I respect the hope. Let’s see if the Jackets can keep it within one goal.
Brooke: Alright, fans, that’s the preview. We broke down the injury crisis, the matchup against Dallas, and why special teams will decide this game. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in our analysis, please consider supporting the show. Your contribution keeps us free and daily. Just check the link in the episode description.
Tony: Thanks for listening. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Go Blue Jackets!