Columbus Blue Jackets News

The Blue Jackets have had an up-and-down season, mirrored by the play of Merzlikins, who will return to the crease on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1) and has been extra impressive lately, winning two straight and posting a .942 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +146 home underdogs against a Lightning club riding a three-game winning streak.

Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.

Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.

Pyyhtia has played 17 games with the Blue Jackets this season, averaging 13:57 time-on-ice and scoring one point (1G / 0A). The 22-year-old has been sent down to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), likely making room for Kent Johnson (upper body) to return to the Blue Jackets lineup.

James van Riemsdyk will draw back into the lineup on Monday, sending Pyyhtia to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Pyyhtia has one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus in 17 games this season.

Merzlikins helped the Blue Jackets snap a six-game losing skid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they returned to the losing column in the following game. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.92 GAA and .898 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action as +165 road underdogs against the Boston Bruins.

The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Jack Johnson will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Harris to suit up for only the second time in six games. The 24-year-old Harris is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice and has zero points in eight games this season.

The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Brindley was the second-round pick, 34th overall, of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old played one game with the Blue Jackets last season, his NHL debut, after completing his campaign with the University of Michigan where he scored 53 points (25G / 28A) in 40 games.

A former third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Hunt has spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL, having just 13 NHL appearances to his name. He has no goals and two assists in six games with Iowa this season. He's appeared in just one NHL game this year, registering two shots on goal and two blocked shots in just over eight minutes of ice time.

Dante Fabbro will make his debut with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, resulting in Harris being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Harris is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice, has zero points, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games this season.

The Blue Jackets have lost five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Merzlikins has a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games this season (2-4-1) and has shown glimpses of consistent play, including posting a .914 SV% in his previous five outings (2-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as +144 road underdogs against a Kraken club with a 6-8-1 record.

Tarasov has only played once in the previous six games for the Blue Jackets, a forgettable outing where he allowed seven goals on 22 shots (.682 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Tarasov has an ugly 4.02 GAA and .860 SV% in six games this season (3-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter Sunday's contest as +105 road underdogs against the Anaheim Ducks.

Johnson has not played since October 17th, expected to miss an extended period of time, and has been placed on Injured Reserve to open up a roster spot. The 22-year-old Johnson was showing signs of a true breakout campaign with two goals and three assists in his first four games.