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.

The Red Wings are desperate to snap a five-game losing skid and will turn to Talbot between the pipes on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. Talbot struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The veteran goalie has a 2.99 GAA and .899 SV% in 36 appearances this season (17-14-3). The Red Wings enter Monday's contest as +145 road underdogs against a Senators squad with points in four straight (3-0-1).

The Red Wings are desperate to snap a five-game losing skid and will turn to Talbot between the pipes on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. Talbot struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The veteran goalie has a 2.99 GAA and .899 SV% in 36 appearances this season (17-14-3). The Red Wings enter Monday's contest as +145 road underdogs against a Senators squad with points in four straight (3-0-1).

Talbot will get the nod for the tail-end of the Red Wings back-to-back after Alex Lyon got the start against Utah on Thursday. Talbot struggled in his last outing, allowing four goals on 20 shots in a 5-3 loss in Columbus on Saturday. The 37-year-old netminder owns a 17-13-3 record on the season along with a .902 SV%. Talbot and the Red Wings enter action on Friday at +185 on the money line.

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 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.

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.

The Red Wings have won two straight and will ride with Talbot between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Talbot was solid in his previous outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.85 GAA and .905 SV% in 33 appearances this season (17-11-3). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as -150 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad coming off an impressive 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars.

The Red Wings have won two straight and will likely ride with Talbot between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Talbot was solid in his previous outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.85 GAA and .905 SV% in 33 appearances this season (17-11-3). The Red Wings enter Thursday's contest as -150 home favorites against a Blue Jackets squad coming off an impressive 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars.

Nichushkin has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on December 31st. The 29-year-old forward originally was not supposed to be out long-term but suffered a setback, keeping him sidelined for the previous 21 games. Nichushkin has been effective when in the lineup but has had trouble staying healthy, failing to play more than 65 games in each of his previous six seasons. He has 17 points (11G / 6A) in 21 games this season.