Columbus Blue Jackets start new season with optimism

Hockey is back.

• But with a new season comes new challenges for a young Blue Jackets team with a second-year coach that has not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their last two seasons.

Driving the news: The team started the season Wednesday night in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-1 loss.

• Tonight's home opener against the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning is at 7pm.

Flashback: The team won a playoff series for the first time against Tampa Bay during the 2018-19 season, but were then knocked out in the second round by the Boston Bruins.

• The Jackets have yet to make it past the second round of the playoffs in franchise history.

🚨 What we're watching: Fans are hoping that left wing Johnny Gaudreau and forward Patrik Laine will be the powerful duo who can take CBJ to the next level this year.

Catch up fast: Gaudreau, aka "Johnny Hockey," signed the most lucrative contract in franchise history in the offseason: $68.25 million over seven years.

• He tied for second in the NHL in scoring with 115 points last season for the Calgary Flames.
• Laine was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in January of 2021. In July, he signed a four year, almost $35 million contract extension.
• He ranked ninth for most power play goals and 14th for overall goals in the NHL last season.

Yes, but: Laine sustained an upper body injury during Wednesday's game and and will miss three to four weeks.

Zoom in: The team has four players that hail from the Columbus area: centers Jack Roslovic, Cole Sillinger and Sean Kuraly, plus right wing Carson Meyer.

🥅 Threat level: Starting goalie Elvis Merzlikins was out for Wednesday's game due to sickness, while backup Joonas Korpisalo is out while recovering from hip surgery.

• That left Daniil Tarasov — also recovering from off-season hip surgery — to start in the season opener, though Merzlikins is expected to start Friday, per a CBS report.

Of note: Alexandre Texier is not playing this season after a recommendation from the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, per an August announcement.

What's more: Captain Boone Jenner was selected in the second round of the 2011 draft and has been a staple on the CBJ roster and fan favorite since.

• Jenner missed the end of last season due to a back injury, but saw action in two preseason games and the season opener.

💥 The bottom line: There is no better sound in Columbus than the boom of the cannon at Nationwide Arena after a CBJ goal.

• Tickets for tonight's game start at $61, but drop below $40 for the next few home games.