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Columbus Blue Jackets News

Talbot will start vs. Toronto on Friday.

In their first game with new head coach Todd McLellan, the Red Wings will turn to Talbot between the pipes. The 37-year-old Talbot allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-0 loss over the St. Louis Blues. He has a 2.79 GAA and .912 SV% in 18 games this season (6-8-2). The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as +132 home underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs club they defeated 4-2 on December 14th.

Cam Talbot
Merzlikins will start vs. Boston on Friday.

Merzlikins was battling an undisclosed injury, preventing him from playing the Blue Jackets' previous game, but he appears no worse for wear and will return to the crease on Friday against the Boston Bruins. Merzlikins allowed five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in his previous outing, a 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He has a 3.13 GAA and .889 SV% in 22 games this season (10-9-3). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +141 home underdogs against a Bruins club they will play again on Saturday.

Elvis Merzlikins
Talbot is in the starter's crease at Detroit's morning skate.

In their first game with new head coach Todd McLellan, the Red Wings will likely turn to Talbot between the pipes. The 37-year-old Talbot allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-0 loss over the St. Louis Blues. He has a 2.79 GAA and .912 SV% in 18 games this season (6-8-2). The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as +132 home underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs club they defeated 4-2 on December 14th.

Cam Talbot
Fabbro (lower-body) will play against the Canadiens on Monday.

Fabbro exited Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning early in the second period after a knee-on-knee collision with Conor Geekie and has not played since. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging 19:19 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games this season.

Dante Fabbro
Werenski (lower-body) will play against the Canadiens on Monday.

Despite battling a lower-body injury, Werenski still played a whopping 27:32 time-on-ice in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Werenski has been incredible this season, pacing for career bests in all offensive categories, scoring 32 points (11G / 21A) and averaging a career-high 26:26 in 34 games.

Zach Werenski
Severson is listed as a scratch for Monday's game against the Canadiens.

Severson was a surprise scratch on Monday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. Severson did take part in the team's morning skate and stayed on for extra work, which suggests he may be a healthy scratch. Denton Mateychuk will draw into the lineup and make his NHL debut in place of Severson.

Damon Severson
Talbot will start vs. St. Louis on Monday.

The Red Wings have been outscored 9-4 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) and will turn to Talbot between the pipes on the final day before the holiday break. The 37-year-old Talbot has a solid 2.78 GAA and .914 SV% in 17 outings (6-7-2) but has lost four straight, posting a .882 SV%. The Red Wings enter Monday's contest as -110 home favorites against a St. Louis Blues club that has only scored three goals in their last three games (0-2-1).

Cam Talbot
The Blue Jackets have loaned James Malatesta to Cleveland (AHL).

James Malatesta has been sent down to Cleveland (AHL) after making his season debut with Columbus. Malatesta was a fifth-round pick, 133rd overall, of the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 25 games with Cleveland (AHL) this season. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jackets recalled Denton Mateychuk from Cleveland.

James Malatesta
The Blue Jackets recalled Denton Mateychuk from Cleveland (AHL) on Sunday.

Mateychuk was the 12th overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play and NHL game. He has 25 points (9G / 16A) in 27 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jackets have loaned James Malatesta to Cleveland.

Denton Mateychuk
Werenski (lower-body) will be a game-time decision vs. Montreal on Monday.

Despite battling a lower-body injury, Werenski still played a whopping 27:32 time-on-ice in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Werenski has been incredible this season, pacing for career bests in all offensive categories, scoring 32 points (11G / 21A) and averaging a career-high 26:26 in 34 games.

Zach Werenski
Talbot is in the starter's crease at Detroit's morning skate.

The Red Wings have been outscored 9-4 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) and will turn to Talbot between the pipes on the final day before the holiday break. The 37-year-old Talbot has a solid 2.78 GAA and .914 SV% in 17 outings (6-7-2) but has lost four straight, posting a .882 SV%. The Red Wings enter Monday's contest as -110 home favorites against a St. Louis Blues club that has only scored three goals in their last three games (0-2-1).

Cam Talbot
Greaves will start vs. Montreal on Monday.

The Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves for the fourth time in the last seven games on Monday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. The 23-year-old Greaves has not recorded a win yet this season but has been serviceable between the pipes, posting a 3.30 GAA and .896 SV% in three games (0-1-2). The Blue Jackets enter Monday's contest as -129 home favorites against a Canadiens club outscoring their opposition 15-5 during a three-game winning streak.

Jet Greaves
Talbot will start on Friday vs. Montreal.

Talbot has been sidelined most of December due to a lower-body injury but will return to the crease for his second start in eight games. The 37-year-old Talbot has been solid between the pipes in his first season with the Red Wings, posting a 2.69 GAA and .916 SV% in 16 games (6-6-2). The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as -155 home favorites against the Montreal Canadiens. The two teams will meet again on Saturday in Montreal.

Cam Talbot
Talbot (lower-body) is expected to return and start on Friday vs. Montreal.

Talbot has been sidelined most of December due to a lower-body injury but will return to the crease for his second start in eight games. The 37-year-old Talbot has been solid between the pipes in his first season with the Red Wings, posting a 2.69 GAA and .916 SV% in 16 games (6-6-2). The Red Wings enter Friday's contest as -155 home favorites against the Montreal Canadiens. The two teams will meet again on Saturday in Montreal.

Cam Talbot
Merzlikins will start vs. New Jersey on Thursday.

Jet Greaves started three of the last four games for the Blue Jackets, but he has been reassigned to Cleveland (AHL), opening the door for Merzlikins to return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has allowed nine goals in his last two games (0-2-0), posting a .830 SV%, and has a 3.11 GAA and .887 SV% in 20 games this season (9-9-2). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +191 home underdogs against a Devils squad outscoring their opposition 11-3 during a three-game winning streak.

Elvis Merzlikins
Malatesta is expected to make his season debut vs. New Jersey on Thursday.

Malatesta was a fifth-round pick, 133rd overall, of the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old made his NHL debut last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A) in 11 games with Columbus. He has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 25 games with Cleveland (AHL) this season.

James Malatesta
Merzlikins is in the starter's crease at Columbus' morning skate.

Jet Greaves started three of the last four games for the Blue Jackets, but he has been reassigned to Cleveland (AHL), opening the door for Merzlikins to return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has allowed nine goals in his last two games (0-2-0), posting a .830 SV%, and has a 3.11 GAA and .887 SV% in 20 games this season (9-9-2). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +191 home underdogs against a Devils squad outscoring their opposition 11-3 during a three-game winning streak.

Elvis Merzlikins