The Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night at Nationwide Arena to begin its 21st season in the National Hockey League.
It will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season and the Blue Jackets are 27-28-6 all-time against Arizona. In the past 10 meetings between the clubs, Columbus is 8-2-0 after splitting a pair of games last season.
The Blue Jackets and first-year head coach Brad Larsen will be looking to improve after the team finished 18-26-12, marking its second sub- .500 season in the past nine seasons. Last year also snapped Columbus' four-year postseason streak.
The puck will drop for the season opener at 7 p.m. Prior to the start of the game, the Blue Jackets will host a Plaza Party beginning at 3 p.m. on the Front Street Plaza.
Prior to the game, the club will also honor the memory of goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks. Members of his family, including his mother, stepfather, sister, and aunt will be in attendance and will participate in a ceremonial puck drop before the game.
A banner featuring his No. 80 will be unveiled and will stay in the rafters of Nationwide Arena for the entire season.
Kivlenieks' No. 80 will also be visible in the ice behind both nets for Thursday’s game vs. Arizona and Saturday’s contest vs. Seattle and all Blue Jackets players will wear an “80” sticker on their helmets throughout the season.
Following the season-opening game against Arizona, the Blue Jackets will remain at home for its second game. Columbus will host the league's newest club, the Seattle Kraken, Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Blue Jackets' first road game of the season will come on Tuesday, Oct. 19, against the Detroit Red Wings.