CBJ at VGK
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights. Preview from the model, the licensed feeds and last season's measures. Nothing here is a betting recommendation.
- Model now
- Expected score
- Market
- —
- Venue
- T-Mobile Arena
What the model says now
Lineups not yet published: each club's usual lineup assumed. Starting goalie not confirmed: goaltending held at league average. This estimate moves until the ledger freezes it before puck drop.
Source: CapOrCup game model (derived from club ratings, rest and starters)
What the schedule did to each side
Nights off, back-to-backs, third games in four nights, road-trip position and travel since the last game, from the statistical schedule. Shown as facts; rest is in the price, travel is not.
second of a back-to-back · third game in four nights · game 4 of a road trip · rest disadvantage
2 nights off · rest advantage
In goal
The league names no starter before puck drop. First on each club's depth chart, from the licensed feed, is the expected starter.
Jet Greaves
Carter Hart
Expected lines
What each club intends per the feed's depth chart, with each forward's shooter rating (Elo, against the goalies faced last season). A listing is the club's statement, not a game sheet.
Columbus Blue Jackets
L1 Matthew Knies (below the league middle) · Adam Fantilli (below the league middle) · Kent Johnson (bottom tenth of the league)
L2 Valeri Nichushkin (bottom tenth of the league) · Sean Monahan (below the league middle) · Dmitri Voronkov (above the league middle)
L3 Cole Sillinger (bottom tenth of the league) · Charlie Coyle (below the league middle) · Mathieu Olivier (above the league middle)
D1 Zach Werenski (top tenth of the league) · Damon Severson (above the league middle)
D2 Carson Soucy (above the league middle) · Denton Mateychuk (top tenth of the league)
PP1 Matthew Knies (below the league middle) · Charlie Coyle (below the league middle) · Adam Fantilli (below the league middle) · Kent Johnson (bottom tenth of the league) · Zach Werenski (top tenth of the league)
Vegas Golden Knights
L1 Ivan Barbashev (above the league middle) · Jack Eichel (above the league middle) · Mark Stone (above the league middle)
L2 Brett Howden (above the league middle) · William Karlsson · Mitch Marner (top tenth of the league)
L3 Trevor Connelly · Tomas Hertl (bottom tenth of the league) · Raphael Lavoie
D1 Brayden McNabb (above the league middle) · Shea Theodore (above the league middle)
D2 Parker Wotherspoon (above the league middle) · Rasmus Andersson (top tenth of the league)
PP1 Mark Stone (above the league middle) · Tomas Hertl (bottom tenth of the league) · Trevor Connelly · Jack Eichel (above the league middle) · Victor Olofsson (below the league middle)
Who the clubs list as out
Club-announced listings relayed by the licensed feed. No cause is inferred; Day To Day players are shown but not counted as out.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Caleb MacDonald (D): Out (lower-body), listed since 2026-09-23, expected back 2026-11-03
Dante Fabbro (D): Out (upper-body), listed since 2026-09-25, expected back 2026-11-03
Isac Lundestrom (C): Out (achilles), listed since 2026-09-25, expected back 2026-12-03
Ivan Provorov (D): Out (lower-body), listed since 2026-09-30, expected back 2026-10-18
Vegas Golden Knights
Kai Uchacz (C): Out (undisclosed), listed since 2026-09-29, expected back 2026-10-24
Lukas Cormier (D): Out (undisclosed), listed since 2026-09-29, expected back 2026-10-22
Parker Wotherspoon (D): Out (upper body), listed since 2026-10-12, expected back 2026-10-20
Victor Olofsson (LW): Out (undisclosed), listed since 2026-10-06, expected back 2026-11-02
Who has the whistle
Named by the league, usually near puck drop. Each referee's record is from last season's play-by-play penalties; ranks are distance from league norms.