Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins will start vs. Ottawa on Tuesday.

Before Rick Bowness assumed head coaching duties in Columbus, Merzlikins had been an afterthought between the pipes, starting only three games in over a month. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie seems to have, at least temporarily, gained the trust of the new coaching staff, as he is poised to start for a third straight game. He has won two straight and saved 59 of 63 shots (.937 SV%) in the process.

Elvis Merzlikins
Merzlikins is expected to start vs. Ottawa on Tuesday.

Before Rick Bowness assumed head coaching duties in Columbus, Merzlikins had been an afterthought between the pipes, starting only three games in over a month. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie seems to have, at least temporarily, gained the trust of the new coaching staff, as he is poised to start for a third straight game. He has won two straight and saved 59 of 63 shots (.937 SV%) in the process.

Elvis Merzlikins
Zamula (illness) will be out vs. Vancouver on Thursday.

Damon Severson missed the Blue Jackets' previous game because of an illness, which is seemingly spread through the team's dressing room, resulting in Zamula being out on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 25-year-old Zamula is averaging a career-high 17:20 through four games with the Blue Jackets.

Egor Zamula
Gudbranson (hip) will return to Columbus' lineup vs. Vancouver on Thursday.

Gudbranson has been plagued with injuries this season, missing two weeks in early October with a lower-body injury, returning for a game, suffering a hip injury, and has been sidelined for nearly three months. The 33-year-old Gudbranson is in his 15th NHL season, his fourth with the Blue Jackets, and was set to be a lineup-regular this season after being limited to only 16 games in 2024-25 because of a shoulder injury.

Erik Gudbranson
Merzlikins will start vs. Vancouver on Thursday.

Merzlikins has only played two games in the last five weeks, but he will get a chance to showcase his abilities in Rick Bowness' second game as the Head Coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 31-year-old Merzlikins started the season in a timeshare with Jet Greaves, but quickly lost the trust of the coaching staff, allowing three or more goals in his last 12 games (4-7-1) while posting a dreadful 4.24 GAA and .861 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favorites against a plummeting Vancouver Canucks team that is on an eight-game losing streak (0-6-2).

Elvis Merzlikins
Gudbranson (hip) has been activated from IR and has potential to return vs. Vancouver on Thursday.

Gudbranson has been plagued with injuries this season, missing two weeks in early October with a lower-body injury, returning for a game, suffering a hip injury, and has been sidelined for nearly three months. The 33-year-old Gudbranson is in his 15th NHL season, his fourth with the Blue Jackets, and was set to be a lineup-regular this season after being limited to only 16 games in 2024-25 because of a shoulder injury.

Erik Gudbranson
Greaves will start against the Flames on Tuesday.

With new head coach Rick Bowness behind the bench for the Blue Jackets, they will turn to Greaves to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 24-year-old Greaves was solid in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Utah Mammoth. He has a 2.71 GAA and .908 SV% in 31 games this season (13-12-6). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as -135 home favorites against a Flames team that has scored just five combined goals in their last four games (1-3-0).

Jet Greaves