Columbus Blue Jackets News

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.

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.

Talbot will be back between the pipes for the Kings for the second straight game on Thursday as he tries to wrestle back control of the starting job from David Rittich. Talbot took the loss in Calgary on Tuesday, allowing three goals on 36 shots in the 4-2 defeat. Despite the result, it was another promising start for Talbot, who's snapped out of his prolonged cold streak with a .949 SV% over his last three contests. He draws a difficult matchup on Thursday with the Kings being +125 underdogs in Vancouver.

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.

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.

With Los Angeles on the second half of a Western Canada back-to-back, Cam Talbot will take the crease on Tuesday in Calgary after backing up with the night off Monday. The 36-year-old was one of the NHL's best goaltenders in the first half of the season but has had a nightmarish run since the turn of the new year which has affected his overall numbers. He still owns an impressive 16-13-5 record, 2.53 GAA and .913 SV% on the season regardless. He takes on the surprisingly surging Calgary Flames, who have won three straight games and are improving offensively as they rank 16th in the NHL in goals per game (3.12).

With Los Angeles on the second half of a Western Canada back-to-back, Cam Talbot will take the crease on Tuesday in Calgary after backing up with the night off Monday. The 36-year-old was one of the NHL's best goaltenders in the first half of the season but has had a nightmarish run since the turn of the new year which has affected his overall numbers. He still owns an impressive 16-13-5 record, 2.53 GAA and .913 SV% on the season regardless. He takes on the surprisingly surging Calgary Flames, who have won three straight games and are improving offensively as they rank 16th in the NHL in goals per game (3.12).

Nichushkin has not played since January 10th before entering the NHL's Player Assistance program. He has missed 17 games and, despite returning to practice on Monday, will miss at least two more as he reaclimates to the team. Before his absence, Nichushkin was scoring at a torrid pace with 21 points (19G / 9A) in his last 15 games.

Talbot will return to the crease on Tuesday, starting consecutive games for only the second time in over a month. The veteran netminder was tremendous on Sunday, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first win since December 23rd, ending an abysmal 11-game stretch (0-7-3) where he posted a .877 SV%. The Kings are -245 home favourites against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

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.

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.

Talbot will likely return to the crease on Tuesday, starting consecutive games for only the second time in over a month. The veteran netminder was tremendous on Sunday, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first win since December 23rd, ending an abysmal 11-game stretch (0-7-3) where he posted a .877 SV%. The Kings are -245 home favourites against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.