Smith will be a healthy scratch on Sunday vs. Los Angeles.
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Columbus Blue Jackets News
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Saturday in Chicago.
Monahan (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play Saturday.
Smith (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play against the Ducks on Friday.
Smith returned to action from a one-game absence, scoring a goal in 15:19 time-on-ice in the Devils' most recent game, a 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He was a game-time decision for Friday's game in Anaheim but appears to be good to go.
Smith (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Friday vs. Anaheim.
Smith returned to action from a one-game absence, scoring a goal in 15:19 time-on-ice in the Devils' most recent game, a 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. His status for Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks is up in the air.
Monahan (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Saturday in Carolina.
Monahan joins Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton, and Gabriel Vilardi as game-time decisions ahead of the matchup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. All four of them played in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars with Monahan being held off the scoresheet for only the second time in the last six games.
Columbus has signed Max McCue to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday.
McCue was the fifth-round pick (156 overall) of the San Jose Sharks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old McCue has 50 points (24G / 26A) in 52 games with the London Knights of the OHL.
Johnson (upper body) will not play on Thursday and is considered out indefinitely.
Johnson has struggled offensively this season, highlighted by a 12-game stretch with only one point (0G / 1A) while averaging over 13 minutes of ice time. He will be out of the lineup indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start on Wednesday vs. the Rangers.
Merzlikins was terrific against the New York Rangers on Sunday, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 victory, and will return to the crease in a rematch on Wednesday night. The Latvian netminder has a 3-2-0 record and a .920 SV% in his last five starts (3-2-0) while allowing three or fewer goals in all but one contest. That said, Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets are significant +211 road underdogs heading into action on Wednesday night.
Monahan (illness) appears ready to return on Tuesday after taking part in the Jets' morning skate.
Monahan (illness) will be out on Sunday vs. Arizona.
Brendan Smith (undisclosed) will be out on Sunday vs. Tampa Bay.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Sunday vs. the Rangers.
Fasching (illness) has been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL) for conditioning purposes.
Fasching has been out of the lineup since before the All-Star break and has been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL) for conditioning. The depth right-winger has struggled offensively with the Islanders this season, with three goals, eight points, 30 SOG and a -8 plus/minus in 35 games played.
Fasching (illness) has been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve retroactive to 1/25.
Fasching has been out of the lineup since before the All-Star break and will remain out for at least several more days after being placed on LTIR. The depth right-winger has struggled offensively with the Islanders this season, with three goals, eight points, 30 SOG and a -8 plus/minus in 35 games played.
Olivier will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Emil Bemstrom will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Olivier to re-enter the lineup. Over his last four games, Olivier has recorded zero points but is averaging four hits per contest.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Merzlikins will tend the twine for the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, his third start in their last four games. The Latvian netminder has won two of his last three outings (2-1-0) and saved 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) on Saturday in a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. That said, the Blue Jackets are sizeable +215 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Fabbro will draw back into the Predators' lineup on Saturday vs. St. Louis.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start on Saturday in San Jose.
Chinakhov (upper body) will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday.
Chinakhov missed the Blue Jackets' previous game due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Saturday as they take on San Jose. The 23-year-old third-year player is in the midst of a breakout campaign, with 14 goals, 10 assists, 82 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 40 games before his injury.
