If this is how the post injury-spate portion of the Blue Jackets' season is going to look, prepare for a lot more tough nights ahead.

Missing five injured regulars ― captain Boone Jenner, playmaking forward Kent Johnson, power forward Dmitri Voronkov, stout defenseman Erik Gudbranson and goalie Elvis Merzlikins — the Jackets got steamrolled by the Minnesota Wild, 3-1, Saturday night at Nationwide Arena.

"It's on all of us," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "If we're not ready to play, it's on me, it's on the coaches, it's on the players. There was one guy ready to go, and that was our goaltender (Daniil Tarasov). ... First time, right? It's one period, but we've got to catch it right now. Second period was good, but it's not enough. You have to start correctly, and we have to find a way to do that as a coaching staff and as a team."

It was the second time in nine days these teams played, and this matchup concluded the two-game season series as a sweep for Minnesota. The Wild won the first meeting, 3-2, on Oct. 10 at Xcel Energy Center.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild updates

FINAL: Minnesota Wild 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 1

The Blue Jackets only trailed 1-0 heading into the third, but Minnesota scored twice in the first 8:26 of the period to blow the game open. Marco Rossi, Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello have scored goals for the Wild and Kaprizov added an assist on Zuccarello's tally for a two-point game. Filip Gustavsson picked up his second win of the season against Columbus, stopping 23 of 24 shots while getting a lot of help from a stingy, smothering defensive effort in front of him.

Chinakhov scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets and Daniil Tarasov made 32 saves in taking the loss.

GOAL, 18:35, 3rd period: Minnesota Wild 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 1

Chinakhov scored his third goal of the season to prevent a shutout, pulling the Jackets within 3-1 with 1:25 left to play.

GOAL, 8:26, 3rd period: Minnesota Wild 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

Mats Zuccarello got behind the Blue Jackets' defense and beat Tarasov at 8:26 to push the Wild's lead to 3-0 before the mid-point in the third. Kaprizov and and Jon Merrill get the assists. It's a two-point night for Kaprizov, who has both points this period on a goal and assist.

GOAL, 2:52, 3rd period: Minnesota Wild 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

Back-to-back penalties taken by Jordan Harris (delay of game) and Cole Sillinger (tripping) led to the Wild taking a 2-0 lead early in the third with a goal by Kirill Kaprizov with a 5-3 man-advantage. Joel Eriksson Ek won the face-off cleanly following Sillinger's penalty, sliding the puck to Matt Boldy ― who dropped a pass to Brock Faber for a diagonal setup to Kaprizov in the right circle.

Kaprizov's shot, a one-timer, beat Tarasov over the shoulder and under the crossbar on the near side of the net.

3rd period has started: Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Blue Jackets have one period left to catch the Wild, trailing by a goal while fighting through a suffocating forecheck and defensive effort in the neutral zone.

Second intermission: Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Blue Jackets managed to get more pushback in the second, but couldn't tie it up despite getting a four-minute power play off Yakov Trenin high-sticking forward Yegor Chinakhov in the face. The Jackets outshot the Wild 12-7 in the middle period, forcing Minnesota's Filip Gustavsson to work a lot harder than he needed to during Columbus' four-shot first period.

Overall, the Wild have a 21-16 edge in shots through the first two periods. Minnesota has also dominated the advanced metrics. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Wild are credited with taking 61.1% of the game's 5-on-5 attempts thus far, holding Columbus to just 38.9% in the first 40 minutes.

Yegor Chinakhov back on the ice for Columbus Blue Jackets

Chinakhov's stint in the training room didn't last long. He returned to the ice before the end of the second minor penalty assessed to Trenin for high-sticking. The Blue Jackets didn't take advantage of the four-minute power play and remain down a goal, 1-0, to the Wild with 10:13 left in the second.

Columbus blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov injured on high-stick, results in four-minute power play

Yegor Chinakhov took a vicious high-stick to the face from Wild forward Yakov Trenin, who was attempting a stick lift. Chinakhov was bleeding as he headed to the training room for repairs, which gave the Blue Jackets a four-minute power play with Trenin boxed for a high-sticking double-minor. The score remains 1-0 in the Wild's favor.

GOAL OVERTURNED, 4:48: Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

Minnesota appeared to take a two-goal lead after defenseman Jacob Middleton followed up the rebound of his own shot, tucking the puck home inside the left post after it skittered under Tarasov. Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason challenged for goaltender interference, and the goal was overturned.

The NHL's situation room ruled that Jakub Lauko's push of Jordan Harris sent the Blue Jackets' defenseman into goalie Daniil Tarasov, prompting the goaltender interference by way of Rule 69.1, which states in part, “Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal."

Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0: second period is under way

The Blue Jackets created a couple good looks with their 1:10 of carryover power-play time to start the second, but they couldn't get the puck past Filip Gustavsson. They also struggled getting it to Gustavsson cleanly through good defensive sticks by the Wild in the highest danger areas.

It remains 1-0 approaching the 4:00 mark of the period.

First intermission: Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Blue Jackets head into the dressing room down a goal after their worst period of the young season. In short, they're lucky the Wild only lead 1-0 after being outshot 10-2 in the first period and finishing on the wrong end of a 20-13 margin in shot attempts.

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Kirill Marchenko drew a cross-checking penalty on Wild forward Yakov Trenin late in the period, which gave the Blue Jackets a power play. They weren't able to tie it during the first 50 seconds of the minor infraction, but the Jackets have 1:10 left on the man-advantage to start the second period.

Daniil Tarasov stopped nine of the Wild's 10 shots in the first to keep the Blue Jackets within a goal, including a great sprawling effort to deny Jakub Lauko on a late breakaway that could've put the Wild up 2-0.

GOAL 12:40, 1st period: Minnesota Wild 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Wild strike first on a goal by Marco Rossi with 7:20 left in the first period.

Marcus Foligno got his stick on Damon Severson's backhand clearing attempt in the lower half of the right circle, sending the puck to Yakov Trenin for a quick pass that sprung Rossi alone into the slot for a wrist shot that beat Tarasov low to the blocker side for a 1-0 lead.

9:01, 1st period: Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild have combined for one shot

After playing each other nine days earlier, the Blue Jackets and Wild are both opting to dump pucks into each other's zone, give up possession and attempt to force turnovers via the forecheck. It has resulted in a slow start offensively, with Columbus outshooting Minnesota 1-0 at 9:01 of the period. A tripping penalty called on Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier will likely open it up.

1st period: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild is under way

The puck is down for the Blue Jackets and Wild at Nationwide Arena, where Adam Fantilli's second line matched up off the hop against Minnesota's second line centered by Joel Eriksson Ek — who's playing tonight with a full plastic face shield due to a broken nose.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild lineups, scratches and officials

Here are tonight's official lineups, including starters, scratches, coaches and officials.

Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild warming up at Nationwide Arena

Blue Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov and Minnesota Wild net-minder Filip Gustavsson led their teams into the ice to start pregame warmup at Nationwide Arena. Without Kent Johnson, who's out long-term with a shoulder injury, the Blue Jackets will use a lineup with seven defensemen and 11 forwards, including Jiricek mixing in as the seventh defenseman.

Jiricek took line rushes as the right wing on the fourth line, which is usually the case for seventh defensemen during pregame. Wouldn't expect to see him get shifts as a forward. That's likely just in pregame. Notably, however, Zach Aston-Reese has moved up to the second line with Adam Fantilli and Justin Danforth, while James van Riemsdyk is now with Kuraly on the fourth line. Mathieu Olivier, the usual right wing with Kuraly's group, has moved up a line to skate with center Cole Sillinger and left wing Mikael Pyyhtia.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek to make season debut

Jiricek, drafted sixth overall in 2022, struggled defensively in the preseason and watched the first four games as a healthy scratch. Getting an opportunity to play against the Wild on Saturday, the offensively gifted young defenseman is eager to earn more opportunities.

"It's a business, right?" Jiricek said. "It's hockey, so I hope I've earned the opportunity to play today, and I just want to prove I can play here. That's my point right now, and I just want to help the team win."

Minnesota Wild lineup changes vs Columbus Blue Jackets

After winning 4-1 on Tuesday in St. Louis, the Wild will get center Joel Eriksson Ek (broken nose) and left wing Marcus Johansson (lower body) back into their lineup. Minnesota might also get center Ryan Hartman back from an undisclosed injury, but then final decision will be made at game time.

Columbus Blue Jackets lineup vs Minnesota Wild

Forwards

Yegor Chinakhov — Sean Monahan — Kirill Marchenko

James van Riemsdyk — Adam Fantilli — Justin Danforth

Mikael Pyyhtia — Cole Sillinger — Mathieu Olivier

Zach Aston-Reese — Sean Kuraly

Defense pairs

Zach Werenski — Ivan Provorov

Jake Christiansen — Damon Severson

Jordan Harris — Jack Johnson

David Jiricek

Goalies

Daniil Tarasov

Jet Greaves

Scratched: F Kevin Labanc

Injured: F Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery), F Kent Johnson (shoulder), G Elvis Merzlikins (upper body), D Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), F Dmitry Voronkov (shoulder), F Gavin Brindley (broken finger)

Minnesota Wild projected lineup vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Forwards

Kirill Kaprizov – Marco Rossi – Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Johansson – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy

Marcus Foligno – Marat Khusnutdinov – Yakov Trenin

Jakub Lauko – Frederick Gaudreau – Liam Ohgren

Defense pairs

Jacob Middleton – Brock Faber

Jonas Brodin – Zach Bogosian

Jon Merrill – Declan Chisholm

Filip Gustavsson

Marc-Andre Fleury

Scratched:D Daemon Hunt

Injured:D Jared Spurgeon (lower body), Ryan Hartman (upper body)

Where can I watch/listen to the Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild?

• TV channel: Bally Sports Ohio

• Streaming: ESPN+

• Radio: 97.1 The Fan

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild start time

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 19

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild series history

• Series record: The Blue Jackets are 32-27-1-7 all-time, including 2-5-3 in the past 10 and 5-3-2 in the past 10 at Nationwide Arena.

• Last meeting: Minnesota won 3-2 in the season-opener for both teams Oct. 10, 2024 in St. Paul, Minn., with Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello scoring goals for the Wild. Kent Johnson and Zach Werenski scored goals for the Blue Jackets, who scored late in the third to pull within a goal and pushed, unsuccessfully, for a tying tally in the waning minutes with their net empty for a 6-on-5 edge. Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves for the Blue Jackets, while Filip Gustavsson earned the win in net for the Wild with 31 saves.

• 2024 matchups: This completes the two-game season series.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday, Oct. 19

• Spread: Blue Jackets (+1.5)

• Over/under: 6.5

• Moneyline: Blue Jackets +105, Wild -185

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild injury updates

Columbus has captain Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery), defenseman Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), forward Dmitri Voronkov (shoulder) and rookie forward Gavin Brindley (broken finger) on injured reserve. The Blue Jackets are also without forward Kent Johnson (shoulder) and goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins, who will miss his second game with a hand/wrist injury expected to keep him out short-term.

Joel Eriksson Ek (broken nose) will return to the Wild's lineup wearing a full face shield, forward Marcus Johansson will return from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury, center Ryan Hartman (upper body) is a gametime decision after participating in morning skate and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (lower body) will miss his third game with a lower-body injury.

Columbus Blue Jackets October 2024 schedule, record

Here's a look at the Blue Jackets schedule for the month of October, along with start times, television, and radio information:

• Thursday, Oct. 10: Blue Jackets at Wild (L, 3-2); Takeaways

• Saturday, Oct. 12: Blue Jackets at Avalanche (W, 6-4); Takeaways

• Tuesday, Oct. 15: Blue Jackets vs. Panthers (L, 4-3); Takeaways

• Thursday, Oct. 17: Blue Jackets vs. Sabres (W, 6-4); Takeaways

• Saturday, Oct. 19: Blue Jackets vs. Wild | 7 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio | 93.3 FM

• Tuesday, Oct. 22: Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs | 7:30 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio

• Saturday, Oct 26: Blue Jackets at Predators | 8 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio

• Monday, Oct 28: Blue Jackets vs. Oilers | 7 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio

• Wednesday, Oct 30: Blue Jackets at Islanders | 7 p.m. | Bally Sports Ohio

• Record: 1-2-0, in 8th place in the Metropolitan Division

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Minnesota Wild records

• Records: Blue Jackets 2-2-0, 4 points, in 6th place of the Metropolitan Division; Wild 2-0-2, 6 points, in 4th place of the Central Division

Columbus Blue Jackets news

• David Jiricek to make his season debut and why.

• Kent Johnson leaves with shoulder injury

• Blue Jackets demonstrate resilience on night team honors "Johnny Hockey."

• Gaudreau family and 5th Line offer each other comfort.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets stumble against Minnesota Wild after poor start