Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins will likely start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.

Copley will take over the Kings' crease for the second time in three games Saturday vs. Montreal after stopped 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a victory last start. The 31-year-old Alaskan native has struggled out of the gate this season, with his 2-0-2 record, 3.75 GAA and .845 SV%. He will face the Montreal Canadiens for a matinee showdown, who has won two straight games but are 25th in the NHL in goals per game (2.85).

Fabbro has two goals, three assists, 19 SOG, six PIMs, and a +4 plus/minus in 16 games played this season but will be the odd man out of the Predators' lineup Wednesday vs. Calgary. The 25-year-old defenseman will be replaced by Ryan McDonagh (injury) in Nashville's lineup.

Merzlikins will attempt to win for the first time since November 2nd as the reeling Blue Jackets, who have lost nine straight (0-7-2), welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite being winless in his last six appearances (0-4-1), Merzlikins has managed to record a save percentage above .900 in four of those contests. The Blue Jackets rank sixth worst in the league offensively (2.68 GF / GP) but are still -139 home favourites against a Blackhawks team that is also struggling amid a four-game skid (0-4-0).

Copley, widely believed to be a time-share goalie with Cam Talbot at the beginning of the season, will start for only the second time since the end of October on Monday. Oddly enough, of Copley's four starts this season, two have been against the Arizona Coyotes, who the Kings will face on Monday. In his first contest against the Coyotes, Copley was serviceable, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 victory, followed up by allowing three goals on six shots (.500 SV%) before being relieved by Talbot, who salvaged an eventual 5-4 victory for the Kings. Even with Copley between the pipes, the Kings are -144 road favourites against a Coyotes team that will be without their top-line center, Barret Hayton.

Copley, widely believed to be a time-share goalie with Cam Talbot at the beginning of the season, will likely start for only the second time since the end of October on Monday. Oddly enough, of Copley's four starts this season, two have been against the Arizona Coyotes, who the Kings will face on Monday. In his first contest against the Coyotes, Copley was serviceable, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 victory, followed up by allowing three goals on six shots (.500 SV%) before being relieved by Talbot, who salvaged an eventual 5-4 victory for the Kings. Even with Copley between the pipes, the Kings are -144 road favourites against a Coyotes team that will be without their top-line center, Barret Hayton.

Severson exited Sunday's contest with an upper-body injury, playing only 9:57 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Severson had three points (2G / 1A) in his last two games and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 19 games this season. A more concrete update on Severson's return timeline should become available later this week.

The Kings will turn to Talbot for the 12th time this season when they host the Blues on Saturday. Talbot was as sturdy as ever against the Panthers on Thursday, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced enroute to a narrow 2-1 victory. The 36-year-old netminder has enjoyed a sensational start to his Kings career, owning an 8-3-1 record to go along with his .927 SV% and 2.11 GAA. He draws another strong matchup at home on Saturday with the Kings being -180 favourites over the Blues.

The Kings are expected to turn to Talbot for the 12th time this season when they host the Blues on Saturday. Talbot was as sturdy as ever against the Panthers on Thursday, stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced enroute to a narrow 2-1 victory. The 36-year-old netminder has enjoyed a sensational start to his Kings career, owning an 8-3-1 record to go along with his .927 SV% and 2.11 GAA. He draws another strong matchup at home on Saturday with the Kings being -180 favourites over the Blues.

Merzlikins will look to snap the Blue Jackets' seven-game losing streak as he takes the crease for a fourth-straight game vs. Washington on Saturday. The 29-year-old has struggled for a second consecutive season as shown by his 3-5-3 record, .901 SV% and 3.24 GAA. He will face the Washington Capitals, who have won three-straight games but are struggling to find the net and are 31st in the NHL in scoring (2.36).

Talbot has enjoyed a terrific start to the season but is coming off one of his worst starts of the season, allowing four goals on 26 shots in a loss to the Flyers last Saturday. Despite being 7-3-0 on the year, Talbot is 0-3-0 with a 3.73 GAA and .872 SV% on home ice this season. He draws a tough home matchup against the Panthers on Thursday with the Kings only being slight favourites at -130.

Talbot did not take the ice for today’s morning skate, making him tonight’s projected starter in net for the Kings. The veteran has had a terrific start to the season but is coming off one of his worst starts of the season, allowing four goals on 26 shots in a loss to the Flyers last Saturday. Despite being 7-3-0 on the year, Talbot is 0-3-0 with a 3.73 GAA and .872 SV% on home ice this season.

Merzlikins will look for his first victory in five contests when he suits up as the starting goalie against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Despite the Blue Jackets inability to provide ample goal support, Merzlikins has played fairly well of late, saving 132 of the last 146 shots he has faced (.904 SV%) in his last five games (1-2-1). The Blue Jackets are +109 home underdogs and will have their work cut out for them against a Coyotes team that has scored three or more goals in nine of their last 10 games (4-4-2).

Merzlikins will return to the Blue Jackets' crease on Tuesday after playing very well in a losing effort on Sunday, allowing three goals on 40 shots (.925 SV%), eventually succumbing to the New York Rangers 4-3 in a shootout. Three of Merzlikins' last four starts have been high-quality performances, but has only managed a 1-1-1 record over that span, partially due to the Blue Jackets' lack of goal production (2.73 GF / GP). The Blue Jackets are +159 home underdogs against a Penguins team that is scorching hot, outscoring their opposition 20-5 during a four-game winning streak.