Columbus Blue Jackets News

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.

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%.

Nichushkin was suspended for six months in May and has been cleared to practice with the Avalanche. In addition, he will make his season debut on November 15th, 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 was suspended for six months in May and has been cleared to practice with the Avalanche as he approaches eligibility for reinstatement. 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 will provide an offensive boost to an injury-depleted team upon his return to the lineup.

The Red Wings have been wildly inconsistent to start the 2024-25 season, heavily relying on their goaltenders, with a 4-5-1 record. Talbot will get the start in the crease on Saturday and has been equally inconsistent, a byproduct of porous team play, posting a 3.16 GAA and .913 SV% in five appearances (2-1-1). The Red Wings, with Alex Lyon between the pipes, were defeated 5-3 by the Buffalo Sabres one week ago.

Voronkov suffered an upper-body injury in the Blue Jackets' preseason finale and has missed the first nine games of the season. The 24-year-old had a productive first NHL season, scoring 18 goals, 34 points and 52 PIMs as a rookie in 75 games played in 2023-24.

With no reason being given for his absence, Fabbro appears to be a healthy scratch. Marc Del Gaizo will draw into the lineup in his place.

The Red Wings' three-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday, and the team will turn to Talbot in the crease against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday for the tail end of their back-to-back. Talbot has been wildly inconsistent through three starts this season (2-1-0), including a 42-save shutout and allowing five goals on 19 shots (.737 SV%). The Red Wings enter the action on Sunday as +220 home underdogs.

Fortunately for Johnson and the Blue Jackets, Johnson will not require surgery, the slimmest of silver linings on unfortunate injury news on the talented youngster. The 22-year-old Johnson was showing signs of a true breakout campaign with two goals and three assists in his first four games.

Copley has been with the Kings since being recalled from Ontario (AHL) on October 16th but strictly served as the backup to David Rittich during his stay. Copley played eight games with the Kings last season (4-1-2), posting a 3.16 GAA and .870 SV%, and has a 3.04 GAA and .864 SV% after one game with the Ontario Reign (1-0-0) this season.

Despite a spectacular 30-save performance for Alex Lyon in a 1-0 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the Red Wings will turn to Talbot between the pipes on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. Talbot's first start of the season was a sensational 42-save shutout victory but, as a whole, has a less impressive 3.31 GAA and .907 SV% in three appearances (1-1-0). The Red Wings enter action on Thursday as +138 home underdogs against a Devils club that has allowed 14 goals in their last two games (0-1-1).

Lundestrom has not played since exiting last Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Utah Hockey Club after playing 11:18 time-on-ice, missing the last two contests. The 24-year-old Lundestrom has one point (1G / 0A) in three games this season.

Gudbranson was placed on IR earlier in the week and underwent successful shoulder surgery on Monday but is without a timetable to return. The 32-year-old is in his 14th NHL season and third with Columbus but had failed to pick up a point in three games prior to his injury.

Lundestrom has not played since exiting last Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Utah Hockey Club after playing 11:18 time-on-ice, missing the last two contests. The 24-year-old Lundestrom has one point (1G / 0A) in three games this season.

Elvis Merzlikins (upper-body) returned to practice on Monday and, as expected, Greaves has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 23-year-old Greaves played nine games with the Blue Jackets last season (3-6-0), posting a 3.49 GAA and .908 SV%.

Andrae was recalled by the Flyers at the beginning of the season after Nick Seeler (lower-body) was placed on Injured Reserve, but did not crack the lineup for any of the five games he was with the team. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in four games with the Flyers in 2023-24 but spent the majority of the year with Lehigh Valley (AHL) and had five goals and 32 points in 61 games played.