Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Columbus Blue Jackets News

Marchenko (illness) is expected to return in Chicago on Wednesday.

Out of precaution, Rick Bowness and the Columbus coaching staff opted not to have Marchenko travel with the team to avoid potentially spreading his illness at the start of their road trip. Still, he has since joined them and will be added to the lineup on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Marchenko has 46 points (19G / 27A) in 50 games this season, including five points (1G / 4A) in his last four games.

Kirill Marchenko
Greaves will start vs. Chicago on Wednesday.

Elvis Merzlikins has become the go-to goalie for Columbus since Rick Bowness took over as the new Head Coach, but they will turn to Greaves on Wednesday in the tail end of a back-to-back. Despite the decrease in playing time, Greaves has remained reliable since the coaching change, posting a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV% in his last six games (5-1-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Wednesday as -147 home favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks, whom they defeated 4-2 less than a week ago.

Jet Greaves
Fabbro (lower-body) took full part in warmups and is expected to return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Tuesday.

Fabbro has not played in over two weeks, but will return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:07 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 48 games this season.

Dante Fabbro
Marchenko (illness) is out vs. New Jersey on Tuesday but is hopeful to return on Wednesday.

Out of precaution, Rick Bowness and the Columbus coaching staff opted not to have Marchenko travel with the team to avoid potentially spreading his illness. With Wednesday being the Blue Jackets' final game before the Olympic Break, Marchenko may remain sidelined until action resumes in late February, but he has not been ruled out yet.

Kirill Marchenko
Merzlikins will start in New Jersey on Tuesday.

The Blue Jackets are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, coinciding with Rick Bowness taking over head coaching duties and improved play by Merzlikins between the pipes. Since the coaching change, the 31-year-old Latvian goalie is sporting a solid 2.49 GAA and .909 SV% in five games. The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -107 road favourites against a struggling New Jersey Devils team that has lost three of its last four games (1-3-0).

Elvis Merzlikins
Marchenko (illness) did not practice on Monday and may not travel with Columbus on their upcoming road trip.

Out of precaution, Rick Bowness and the Columbus coaching staff opted not to have Marchenko travel with the team to avoid potentially spreading his illness. With only two games for the Blue Jackets before the Winter Olympic break, Marchenko may be kept out of the lineup until action resumes in late February.

Kirill Marchenko
Merzlikins will start in Chicago on Friday.

The Blue Jackets' new Head Coach Rick Bowness continues to show his trust in Elvis Merzlikins, who will return to the crease for the fifth time in eight games since the coaching change. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie has also played better with his uptick in deployment, posting a 2.63 GAA and .907 SV% in his last four outings (3-1-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Friday as -147 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team on a four-game losing streak (0-2-2).

Elvis Merzlikins