Merzlikins helped the Blue Jackets snap a six-game losing skid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they returned to the losing column in the following game. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.92 GAA and .898 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action as +165 road underdogs against the Boston Bruins.
Wood has not played since October 28th but, after being activated from Injured Reserve, will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. Wood joins Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) as players making long-awaited returns to the lineup.
Nichushkin was suspended for six months in May and will make his season debut on Friday, his first day of eligibility. Off-ice issues aside, Nichushkin has been dynamite in his last three seasons with the Avalanche, scoring 152 points (70G / 82A) in 169 games, and he will provide an offensive boost to an injury-depleted team upon his return to the lineup. Nichushkin is expected to play on a line with Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt.
The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).
The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).
Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup after being activated from Injured Reserve. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body), also activated from IR, could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.
Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.
Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fabbro to make his debut with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Fabbro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
The Blue Jackets have lost five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Merzlikins has a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games this season (2-4-1) and has shown glimpses of consistent play, including posting a .914 SV% in his previous five outings (2-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as +144 road underdogs against a Kraken club with a 6-8-1 record.
Alex Lyon (lower body) is nearing a return to the Red Wings lineup, but in the interim, Talbot will continue to hold the reins for the crease in Detroit. Talbot has allowed two or fewer goals in three straight (2-1-0) and has been solid all season for the Red Wings, posting a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV% in eight outings (4-2-1). The Red Wings will face off against a Pittsburgh Penguins club fresh off a disastrous 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Nichushkin was suspended for six months in May and will make his season debut on November 15th, his first day of eligibility, as per head coach Jared Bednar. Off-ice issues aside, Nichushkin has been dynamite in his last three seasons with the Avalanche, scoring 152 points (70G / 82A) in 169 games, and he will provide an offensive boost to an injury-depleted team upon his return to the lineup.
Fabbro has spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old Fabbro was in and out of the lineup with the Predators this season, recording zero points and a -3 plus/minus in six games.
Johnson has not played since October 17th, expected to miss an extended period of time, and has been placed on Injured Reserve to open up a roster spot. The 22-year-old Johnson was showing signs of a true breakout campaign with two goals and three assists in his first four games.
Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice.
Alex Lyon was originally expected to start on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs but suffered a lower-body injury, resulting in Talbot suiting up in the Red Wings' crease. The 37-year-old Talbot has been solid between the pipes for the Red Wings this season, posting an impressive 2.45 GAA and .929 SV% in seven games (4-1-1). The Red Wings are riding a two-game winning streak but enter Friday's contest as +170 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs team that will be without Auston Matthews (upper-body) for a second consecutive contest.
After a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in their previous outing, with Daniil Tarasov between the pipes, the Blue Jackets will switch back to Merzlikins in the crease for the fourth time in the previous five games. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign but has strung together some solid efforts, posting a 2.86 GAA and .907 SV% in five contests (2-3-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as -123 road favorites against a San Jose Sharks club welcoming Macklin Celebrini back into the lineup.
The Red Wings snapped a three-game losing skid in their previous contest, courtesy of a 31-save performance (.969 SV%) by Talbot in a 2-1 win over the Sabres, and will turn to Talbot for a second consecutive start on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 37-year-old Talbot has a 2.73 GAA and .923 SV% in six games this season (3-1-1) and has strung together three consecutive quality performances (2-0-1), posting a .934 SV%.
