Columbus Blue Jackets News

The Blue Jackets are coming off a crucial 7-3 win over the New York Rangers in their race for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Merzlikins was solid in his most recent outing despite being on the wrong end of a 3-0 score to the Florida Panthers, saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%). He has a 2.99 GAA and .897 SV% in 42 games this season (22-16-4). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +144 road underdogs against a Devils team that snapped a three-game losing skid in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Emil Andrae will draw back into Philadelphia's lineup on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, resulting in Zamula being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Zamula is averaging 16:41 time-on-ice and has 14 points (3G / 11A) in 47 games this season.

The Flyers have lost four straight and will turn to Fedotov between the pipes for a second consecutive game on Tuesday. Fedotov was solid in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%). The 28-year-old goalie has a 3.02 GAA and .886 SV% in 20 appearances this season (5-10-3). The Flyers enter Tuesday's contest as +103 home underdogs against an Ottawa Senators squad that defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 last night.

Coyle will likely be Colorado's third-line center, a role more suited for the 33-year-old forward than he was deployed this season as a Boston Bruin. The 13-year veteran forward averaged 17:38 time-on-ice and scored 22 points (15G / 7A) in 64 games with Boston this season.

With the recent acquisition of Christian Fischer off of waivers from the Detroit Red Wings, Pyyhtia will be reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to create a roster spot for the newcomer. The 23-year-old Pyyhtia is averaging 12:06 time-on-ice and has seven points (4G / 3A) in 47 games this season.

With Jimmy Vesey making his Colorado debut on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, Wood will be the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Wood is averaging 11:22 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 28 games this season.

Despite a 6-2 loss where Merzlikins allowed five goals on 39 shots (.872 SV%) in their most recent outing, the Blue Jackets will roll with him between the pipes again as they continue their push for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Latvian netminder has a 3.33 GAA and .904 SV% in his last six games (3-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as sizeable +244 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers club on a four-game winning streak.

Olivier has impressed in his third season with the Blue Jackets, averaging a career-high 14:26 time-on-ice and scoring a career-high 21 points (12G / 9A) through only 61 games this season. He has become a staple on the team's third line, collecting 232 hits, the second most in the NHL.

With Ryan Hartman returning to the lineup after an eight-game suspension, Gaunce will be sent to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Gaunce is averaging 10:00 time-on-ice and has zero points in seven games this season.

With Lian Bichsel (concussion) expect to return to the Stars' lineup on Tuesday, Smith will be the odd-man out as a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old Smith is averaging 12:51 time-on-ice and has four points (0G / 4A) in 27 games this season.

With Yegor Chinakhov (upper body) expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pyyhtia will be the odd-man out as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Pyyhtia is averaging 12:06 time-on-ice and has seven points (4G / 3A) in 47 games this season.

The Blue Jackets have won four straight and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Merzlikins was terrific in his most recent outing, saving 43 of 46 shots (.935 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.96 GAA and .897 SV% in 40 games this season (22-14-4). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +141 road underdogs against a Lightning squad whose eight-game winning streak snapped last night in a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.

Gaunce will slot in for Devin Shore, who is a healthy scratch. Gaunce has played in five games this season and is yet to register a point.

Sillinger exited Thursday's 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in the first period after only 2:54 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 21-year-old Sillinger has 29 points (9G / 20A) and 62 hits in 54 games this season.

Cole Sillinger suffered an upper-body injury in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, resulting in the Blue Jackets recalled Pyyhtia from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 23-year-old Pyyhtia has seven points (4G / 3A) in 46 games with the Blue Jackets this season.

Sillinger exited Thursday's 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in the first period after only 2:54 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 21-year-old Sillinger has 29 points (9G / 20A) and 62 hits in 54 games this season.

Fasching has not played an NHL since January 5th due to an upper-body injury and will draw back into the lineup after a brief conditioning stint in Bridgeport (AHL). Before his injury, the 29-year-old Fasching averaged 8:56 time-on-ice and had yet to score a point through 19 games this season.