Aston-Reese missed the 11 games of the season while rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery but appears set to join the Penguins' lineup on Thursday. With Jared McCann out week-to-week, Aston-Reese will replace him and skate with familiar linemates in Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev.
According to John Tortorella, Werenksi is "banged up" and will not play on Sunday. In Saturday's practice Dean Kukan took Werenski's spot next to Seth Jones and it looks as if Scott Harrington will draw in as the sixth defenseman.
Coyle was banged up on Saturday and missed Sunday's practice but head coach Bruce Cassidy expects him to be available for Monday's rematch. Coyle has two goals and two assists (four points) in eight games this season.
Merzlikins allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Blue Jackets' win over the Lightning last Saturday. With Joonas Korpisalo on the losing end of Tuesday's game, Merzlikins will start Thursday's rematch vs. the Panthers. Through three starts, the 26-year-old netminder is 1-1-1 with a 3.34 GAA and .891 SV%.
The Blue Jackets went with Joonas Korpisalo in their season opening loss, so they'll go to Merzlikins in the rematch on Saturday. Merzlikins was really good after being called up from the AHL last season, going 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and five shutouts in 33 games. In his only start vs. the Predators, Merzlikins stopped 33 of 36 shots in a 4-3 shootout loss in February, 2020.
Aston-Reese underwent shoulder surgery in August and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season. With Aston-Reese out, the Penguins will likely have Evan Rodrigues or Drew O'Connor in their bottom-6 for the first month.
Gillies went 14-10-4 with a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 30 AHL games with the Stockton Heat in 2020. Gillies is still just 26-years-old but will be headed to Springfield (AHL) to start 2021.
Gudbranson is entering the final-year of his deal that carries a $4.0M cap-hit. After nine years with the Panthers, Canucks, Penguins and Ducks, Gudbranson gets a chance to play in his hometown. Gudbranson has been much maligned in recent years but brings physicality to a Senators blueline that lost that edge when they let Mark Borowiecki walk in free agency.
Merzlikins was banged up in the Blue Jackets’ Game 4 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs and was not available to backup in Game 5. Head coach John Tortorella was not sure how long Merzlikins will be out when he met with the media on Monday. Look for Joonas Korpisalo to start Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Kukan was shaken up early in Game 2 but eventually returned to the game. His removal from the lineup for Game 3 was listed as a "coach's decision." He'll be replace by Markus Nutivaara on Thursday.
