Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins will start in Boston on Monday.

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.

Elvis Merzlikins
Wood (upper-body) will return vs. Washington on Friday.

Wood has not played since October 28th but, after being activated from Injured Reserve, will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. Wood joins Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) as players making long-awaited returns to the lineup.

Miles Wood
Merzlikins will start vs. Pittsburgh on Friday.

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).

Elvis Merzlikins
Merzlikins is in the starter's crease at Columbus' morning skate.

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).

Elvis Merzlikins
Wood (upper-body) has been activated from IR.

Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup after being activated from Injured Reserve. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body), also activated from IR, could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.

Miles Wood
Wood (upper-body) will not return on Wednesday but is a possibility on Friday vs. Washington.

Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.

Miles Wood
The Wild recalled Hunt from Iowa (AHL) on Tuesday.

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.

Daemon Hunt
Fabbro will make his Blue Jackets' debut on Tuesday in Seattle.

Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fabbro to make his debut with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Fabbro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Dante Fabbro
Merzlikins will start on Tuesday in Seattle.

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.

Elvis Merzlikins
The Blue Jackets have claimed Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Predators.

Fabbro has spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old Fabbro was in and out of the lineup with the Predators this season, recording zero points and a -3 plus/minus in six games.

Dante Fabbro
Johnson (upper body) has been moved to Injured Reserve.

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.

Kent Johnson
Aston-Reese will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday in San Jose.

James van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for the first time this season in the Blue Jacket's previous contest but will return to the lineup on Tuesday, swapping places with Aston-Reese. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese has four points (2G / 2A) in 11 games and will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Zach Aston-Reese
Merzlikins will start on Tuesday in San Jose.

After a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in their previous outing, with Daniil Tarasov between the pipes, the Blue Jackets will switch back to Merzlikins in the crease for the fourth time in the previous five games. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign but has strung together some solid efforts, posting a 2.86 GAA and .907 SV% in five contests (2-3-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as -123 road favorites against a San Jose Sharks club welcoming Macklin Celebrini back into the lineup.

Elvis Merzlikins