Knies Moves Forward Before First Game Against Toronto
Matthew Knies will face Toronto for the first time since being traded to Columbus, while Kirill Marchenko returns to Nationwide Arena after the deal. Knies said he is focused on his new teammates and is still adjusting to a different division and city. Columbus split its weekend games and continues to seek more offense as Knies' line builds chemistry.
The Oct. 20, 2026 matchup marks Toronto’s lone visit to Columbus this season, adding extra attention to Knies’ first meeting with his former club. Kirill Marchenko also returns to Nationwide Arena for the first time since the trade, while Jack Roslovic and Nick Blankenburg are among other ex-Blue Jackets back; Sergei Bobrovsky reportedly did not make the trip.
Columbus won 1-0 over the Rangers on Saturday before falling 2-1 to Minnesota on Sunday. Knies said his line is improving through practice and communication, though it must finish chances. Off the ice, he is settling in after moving divisions, spending his first night out of a hotel and adjusting to daily routines.
Count words: first para: The(1) Oct.(2) 20,(3) 2026(4) matchup(5) marks(6) Toronto’s(7) lone(8) visit(9) to(10) Columbus(11) this(12) season,(13) adding(14) extra(15) attention(16) to(17) Knies’(18) first(19) meeting(20) with(21) his(22) former(23) club.(24) Kirill(25) Marchenko(26) also(27) returns(28) to(29) Nationwide(30) Arena(31) for(32) the(33) first(34) time(35) since(36) the(37) trade,(38) while(39) Jack(40) Roslovic(41) and(42) Nick(43) Blankenburg(44) are(45) among(46) other(47) ex-Blue(48) Jackets(49) back;(50) Sergei(51) Bobrovsky(52) reportedly(53) did(54) not(55) make(56) the(57) trip.(58) Second: Columbus(59) won(60) 1-0(61) over(62) the(63) Rangers(64) on(65) Saturday(66) before(67) falling(68) 2-1(69) to(70) Minnesota(71) on(72) Sunday.(73) Knies(74) said(75) his(76) line(77) is(78) improvi
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