Merzlikins was handed the loss after replacing Joonas Korpisalo in the shootout on Sunday. With Korpisalo out for at least one month, this will be a huge test for the 25-year-old Merzlikins. Tonight will be his first career start on home-ice and hopefully it goes better than his first eight road outings--0-4-4 with a 3.41 GAA and .889 SV%.
With only five healthy defensemen on the roster, Jaros comes back up from Belleville and will play on the third pair on Sunday. Jaros has one goal and nine assists (10 points) in 21 AHL games this season and one goal and nine assists (10 points) in 64 career NHL games.
Provorov missed the Flyers' morning skate due to an illness and will be a game-time decision vs. the Rangers. Provorov has not missed a game in his NHL career, so don't expect him to sit tonight.
Luoto appeared in the last two games but will be replaced by Jansen Harkins, who will be making his NHL debut on Saturday. Luoto is still searching for his first career NHL point.
Merzlikins was pulled after allowing two goals on eight shots in the Blue Jackets' loss in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon. Merzlikins is still searching for his first NHL win after starting his career 0-4-3 with a 3.41 GAA and .889 SV%. He has not played well but a matchup vs. the Red Wings is a great opportunity to mark one in the win column.
Luoto has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace Mathieu Perreault (concussion) in the lineup on Tuesday. Luoto has no points and just six shots in 14 games this season.
This is surprising. The Blue Jackets announced that Werenski will miss one month with a sprained AC joint just over two weeks ago, but activating him from IR suggests he will play tonight in Detroit. The 22-year-old is a Michigan native, so he will be playing in front of family if he is in the lineup and comes in with 16 points (6G / 10A) in 26 games this season.
Merzlikins allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Blue Jackets' loss in Florida last Saturday. The 25-year-old is still looking for his first NHL win, as he has started the year 0-4-3 with a 3.30 GAA and .894 SV% in seven starts and one relief appearance. Today he takes on a Senators team that has lost seven of their last nine while scoring 2.33 goals per game.
Merzlikins allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Blue Jackets' loss to the Islanders last Saturday. Joonas Korpisalo started the last two games but Merzlikins will start tonight in Florida. Merzlikins has not started on home ice this season but has made six road starts, going 0-3-3 with a 3.66 GAA and .884 SV%. The Panthers come in at 7-4-2 while scoring 3.62 goals per game on home-ice.
Werenski is expected to miss one month with a sprain AC joint, so his move to IR opens up a roster spot to recall reinforcements if the Blue Jackets need them.
Aston-Reese was absent from Tuesday’s practice session but the Penguins expect him to be in the lineup vs. the Blues. Aston-Reese has just four goals and three assists (seven points) in 27 games this season.
Olivier appeared in eight straight games with the Predators but Kyle Turris was back in the lineup on Tuesday and Olivier's return to the AHL suggests he'll remain in the lineup moving forward. Olivier had one assist, six shots and a plus-1 rating during his time with Nashville.
Gaunce appeared in one game during his call-up and picked up one assist in 9:10 TOI. He returns to the AHL to make room for John Moore to come back from his conditioning stint.
Werenski left Saturday's game with a shoulder injury and the Blue Jackets announced on Sunday that he'll be out for at least four weeks. Werenski's injury leaves the Blue Jackets with six healthy defensemen, so look for them to call someone up from Cleveland (AHL) before Tuesday's game. Don't expect to see Werenski until late-December/early-January.
Merzlikins gave up four goals on 31 shots in the Blue Jackets loss in Winnipeg last Saturday. Merzlikins is still winless in five NHL appearances but is coming off of a win in the AHL earlier in the week. Tonight he faces an Islanders team that has won nine of their last 10 while scoring 3.80 goals per game on home-ice this season.
Gaunce had one assist in 9:10 TOI in his Bruins debut on Wednesday but will be replaced by Jack Studnicka in the lineup on Friday.
This is the second time that the Blue Jackets have done this. They want Merzlikins to get some playing time and with Joonas Korpisalo playing well, he's not going to get that in Columbus right now. Merzlikins allowed one goal on 29 shots in a losing effort in his only AHL game.
