Columbus Blue Jackets News

Werenski was in severe difficulty exiting the ice in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old defenseman will not play on Monday, but his prognosis is positive, and he is expected to only be sidelined on a day-to-day basis. Werenski is having another elite season from the blueline, with 40 points (14G / 26A) in 35 games. He played 81 games last season, but has faced injury trouble over the course of his career, so there is always extra concern whenever an injury arises.

Werenski was in a lot of discomfort on Saturday and had to crawl to the bench to get off the ice. Luckily, tests reportedly revealed no broken bones and Werenski is considered day-to-day. It seems unlikely that he'll play Monday in Los Angeles, but he could be ready after the Christmas break, when the Blue Jackets take on the Islanders on Saturday (Dec.28).

Greaves snapped a personal seven-game losing streak (0-4-3) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%). Despite the lack of results, Greaves has undoubtedly been the more reliable Blue Jackets' goalie this season and will return to the crease for a sixth straight game on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Greaves has a solid 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% in his last 13 games (5-4-4). That said, the Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as slight +104 home underdogs against a red-hot Wild team that has outscored its opposition 23-7 during a five-game winning streak.

The Red Wings have played well lately, with points in eight of their last nine (6-1-2), largely due to the improved play of John Gibson between the pipes. That said, they will turn to Talbot on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 38-year-old Talbot has a 3.01 GAA and .885 SV% in 17 games (9-5-2) and has lost five straight decisions (0-3-2). The Red Wings enter Wednesday’s contest as -118 home favorites against a Mammoth team that has lost four of their last six (2-4-0).

Darcy Keumper (upper body) was placed on Injured Reserve, resulting in the Kings recalling Copley from Ontario (AHL). With the Kings playing two back-to-back over the next week, Copley could tend the twine twice in that time if Kuemper remains out of the lineup for longer than a week.

Greaves has been on the wrong end of seven straight outings (0-4-3), but has been serviceable despite the poor outcomes, posting a 2.70 GAA and .904 SV%. The 24-year-old Greaves has a 2.75 GAA and .905 SV% in 20 games this season (7-8-5). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as -140 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks team that played last night and defeated the New York Rangers 4-1.

The Red Wings will unsurprisingly turn to Talbot on Thursday after John Gibson got the nod in Calgary on Wednesday. Talbot lost his fourth consecutive start in his last outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots in a 6-5 shootout loss in Columbus on December 4th. The 38-year-old netminder brings a 9-4-2 record and .884 SV% into Thursday night's matchup with the Oilers, where the Red Wings enter action at +150 on the money line.

With Booner Jenner (upper body) expected to return on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, Del Bel Belluz will be the odd man out and immediately assigned to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 22-year-old Del Bel Belluz has one assist in 11 games with Columbus this season.

With Booner Jenner (upper body) expected to return on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, Del Bel Belluz will be the odd man out as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Del Bel Belluz has one assist in 11 games this season.

White will draw back in on Tuesday as Dennis Cholowski draws out of the lineup. White is yet to register a point through 9 games this season.

Elvis Merzlikins again and again proved to be unreliable, allowing four or more goals in five of his last six games (2-3-1), resulting in Greaves returning to the crease on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 24-year-old Greaves has undoubtedly been the more reliable netminder for the Blue Jackets, posting a solid 2.71 GAA and .907 SV% in 17 games (7-5-5). He was stellar in his most recent outing, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. Still, the Blue Jackets enter Tuesday’s contest as +173 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has only scored one goal in three of their last four games (2-2-0).

With Evgeni Malkin (upper body) and Blake Lizotte (undisclosed) placed on Injured Reserve, Pittsburgh has recalled Danton Heinen and Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL). The 30-year-old Heinen is an NHL veteran of 575 games, but has spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 12 games.