Christiansen will draw into the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday.
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Columbus Blue Jackets News
Sillinger (shoulder) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play on Friday.
Sillinger missed the last 11 games with a shoulder injury but will play Friday with the Canucks. Sillinger, who has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 54 games this season, will skate on the third line with Justin Danforth and Mathieu Olivier.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start vs. Vancouver on Friday.
The Blue Jackets snapped a six-game losing skid in their most recent outing when Merzlikins saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. They will roll Merzlikins between the pipes on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks as they try to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.03 GAA and .896 SV% in 47 games this season (23-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as -125 home favorites against a Canucks squad riding a two-game winning streak.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will likely get the start Friday vs. the Canucks.
Wood will draw back into Colorado's lineup on Thursday vs. Los Angeles.
Joel Kiviranta will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing Wood to re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Wood is averaging 11:17 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 30 games this season.
Columbus has signed Caleb MacDonald to a two-year, entry-level contract.
MacDonald is a 22-year-old undrafted free agent out of the University of North Dakota. The 6-foot-3, 224 lbs. left-shot blueliner finished his second NCAA season with three goals and seven assists (10 points) in 46 games. MacDonald’s contract will begin in 2025-26.
Columbus has signed Charlie Elick to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Elick was a second-round pick, 36th overall, of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman has spent the past four seasons in the WHL. He has eight points (2G / 6A) in 33 games with the Tri-City Americans (WHL) this season.
Christiansen (upper-body) has been cleared and could return on Friday vs. Vancouver.
Christiansen has not played since March 13th but appears to be nearing an immediate return to the lineup. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.
Sillinger (upper-body) has been cleared and is a possibility to return vs. Vancouver on Friday.
Sillinger has not played since February 27th but appears to be nearing an immediate return to the lineup. The 21-year-old forward was averaging 17:18 time-on-ice and scored 29 points (9G / 20A) in 54 games before his injury.
Fasching (illness) is expected to return vs. Vancouver on Wednesday.
Fasching did not play in New York's previous game due to an illness, but will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Fasching is averaging 10:04 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 31 games this season. Adam Boqvist will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Fasching's return.
Columbus has signed Jack Williams to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Williams is an undrafted forward that has spent the previous three seasons playing collegiate hockey for Northeastern University (H-East). The 23-year-old Williams scored 41 points (16G / 25A) in 37 games with Northeastern this season.
Wood will be a healthy scratch vs. Detroit on Tuesday.
Wood has only played one game in the last two weeks and will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 29-year-old Wood is averaging 11:17 time-on-ice, recording 40 hits, 48 penalty minutes, and four points (2G / 2A) in 30 games this season.
Fasching (ill) is out on Monday vs. Columbus.
With Fasching battling an illness, Adam Boqvist will draw into New York's lineup as his replacement. The 29-year-old Fasching is averaging 10:04 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 31 games this season.
Monahan (wrist) will return to Columbus' lineup on Monday vs. New York.
Monahan has not played since suffering a wrist injury in early January but will make his return to the lineup on Monday against the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old Monahan was producing at a point-per-game pace before his injury for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games. He is expected to play on the Blue Jackets' top line with Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko.
Gudbranson (shoulder) will return to Columbus lineup on Monday on Long Island.
Gudbranson only played three games this season before suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery in October. The 33-year-old is in his 14th NHL season, his third with Columbus, and is slated to make his return to the lineup on Monday against the New York Islanders.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start on Long Island on Monday.
The Blue Jackets, amid a six-game losing skid (0-5-1), are desperately trying to stay in contention for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Monday against the New York Islanders. The 30-year-old Merzlikins struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 46 games this season (22-19-5). The Blue Jackets enter Monday's contest as +114 road underdogs against an Islanders team with points in five straight games (2-0-3).
Goalie Start
Fedotov will start in Chicago on Sunday.
Gudbranson (shoulder) is on track to return on Monday on Long Island after practicing in full on Sunday.
Monahan (wrist) is on track to return on Monday in New York after practicing in full on Sunday.
Wood is expected to draw back into Colorado's lineup on Saturday vs. Montreal.