Columbus Blue Jackets News

With Jonathan Drouin (undisclosed) and Martin Necas (undisclosed) sidelined on Thursday, Jimmy Vesey and Miles Wood will draw into Colorado's lineup. The 29-year-old Wood is averaging 11:07 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 32 games this season.

The Red Wings have likely played themselves out of contention for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Still, they are clinging to hope and will be desperate for a win, with Talbot tending the twine on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Talbot was seconds away from his third shutout of the season on Tuesday before allowing the game-tying goal and ultimately falling 2-1 to the St. Louis Blues in overtime despite a stellar 35-save performance (.946 SV%). The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.92 GAA and .902 SV% in 41 appearances this season (18-17-4).

Jack Johnson will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, sending Severson to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Severson is averaging 19:03 time-on-ice and has 25 points (6G / 19A) in 70 games this season.

The Blue Jackets remain within reach of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. Merzlikins has struggled lately, allowing 13 goals on 98 shots in his last three games (.867 SV%), but has received adequate goal support, pulling off a 3-0-0 record despite his less-than-stellar statistics. He has a 3.11 GAA and .894 SV% in 49 games this season (25-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +123 home favorites against an Avalanche team coming off a 3-2 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks last night.

The Red Wings will hand Talbot his 37th start of the season when they travel to St. Louis to take on the Blues on Tuesday. Talbot was excellent in his last start, stopping 20 of the 21 shots he faced in a 2-1 victory over the Bruins on Saturday. The 37-year-old netminder owns an 18-17-3 record and a .900 SV% on the season. Talbot and the Red Wings enter action on Tuesday at +140 on the money line.

With Dante Fabbro returning from an undisclosed injury, Christiansen will be the odd man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:41 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 66 games this season.

Fabbro has been battling an undisclosed injury but will be ready to play on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old Fabbro is averaging a career-high 21:53 time-on-ice, recording 20 points (6G / 14A), 118 blocks, and 60 hits in 52 games with the Blue Jackets this season.

The Blue Jackets are desperately trying to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old Merzlikins struggled in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 37 shots (.838 SV%) despite recording the victory in a 7-6 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks. He has a 3.09 GAA and .895 SV% in 48 appearances this season (24-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as -191 home favorites against a Predators team that lost 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers last night.

Jimmy Vesey will draw back into Colorado's lineup on Monday against the Calgary Flames, sending Wood to the press box as a healthy scratch. Wood has four points (2G / 2A) in 32 games this season and only has one assist in his last 19 contests.

Fabbro is battling an undisclosed injury but could be ready to play on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old Fabbro is averaging a career-high 21:53 time-on-ice, recording 20 points (6G / 14A), 118 blocks, and 60 hits in 52 games with the Blue Jackets this season.

Sillinger missed the last 11 games with a shoulder injury but will play Friday with the Canucks. Sillinger, who has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 54 games this season, will skate on the third line with Justin Danforth and Mathieu Olivier.

The Blue Jackets snapped a six-game losing skid in their most recent outing when Merzlikins saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. They will roll Merzlikins between the pipes on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks as they try to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.03 GAA and .896 SV% in 47 games this season (23-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Canucks squad riding a two-game winning streak.