Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins will likely 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.

Merzlikins will be back in action against the Rangers on Sunday for the first time since being pulled after allowing three goals on ten shots in Monday's game against the Panthers. The 29-year-old netminder owns an .897 SV%, a 3.20 GAA, and a 3-3-2 record across nine starts this season. He draws another difficult assignment on Sunday with the Blue Jackets coming into the game as +190 road underdogs.

It's Copley's first start since October 27th's game in Arizona, when he was pulled in favour of Cam Talbot after allowing three goals on just six shots. Thanks to his own struggles and an excellent run of form from Talbot, Copley has been relegated back to his usual back-up role after he made a career-high 37 appearances for the Kings last year. Copley owns an abysmal .788 SV% and a 4.98 GAA across three starts this season. Copley and the Kings are slight favourites at -120 over the Penguins on Thursday.

Talbot will start the front end of a back-to-bad for the Kings as they take on their division rivals, the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. Talbot has been tremendous between the pipes for the Kings and is coming off his first shutout of the season, a 24-save, 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran goalie has helped his team pick up a point in his last five games (4-0-1) while saving an impressive 121 of 128 shots (.945 SV%). However, the Kings will have their work cut out for them as +113 road underdogs against the league-leading Golden Knights.

Talbot will likely start the front end of a back-to-bad for the Kings as they take on their division rivals, the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. Talbot has been tremendous between the pipes for the Kings and is coming off his first shutout of the season, a 24-save, 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran goalie has helped his team pick up a point in his last five games (4-0-1) while saving an impressive 121 of 128 shots (.945 SV%). However, the Kings will have their work cut out for them as +113 road underdogs against the league-leading Golden Knights.

Merzlikins will start against the Florida Panthers on Monday, marking his fourth consecutive start for the Blue Jackets and seventh in their last eight games. Merzlikins is coming off back-to-back solid performances (1-1-0) in which he saved 52 of 56 shots on what has otherwise been a very inconsistent season. The Blue Jackets have struggled as a whole, ranking 28th offensively (2.55 GF / GP), leaving very little room for error for their netminders. As such, the Blue Jackets are +194 road underdogs against a Panthers team that is coming off a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Olivier will likely slot back into the Blue Jackets' lineup as Emil Bemstrom is expected to be a healthy scratch. Olivier hasn't played since October 30th, but has six games under his belt this season, recording two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 9:12 time-on-ice. He is expected to skate on the third line with Yegor Chinakhov and Cole Sillinger.

Marzlikins was fantastic in his previous start as he stopped 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) no way to snapping a three-game losing streak and will take on Washington at home Saturday. The 29-year-old had a nightmarish 2022-23, but has bounced back so far this season with his 3-2-2 record, .902 SV% and 2.97 GAA. He'll take on the Washington Capitals, who just had a three-game winning streak snapped even though they are second last in the NHL in goals per game (1.89).

After scoring 40 points (16G / 24A) in 79 games as a rookie last season, Johnson has struggled to stay in the Blue Jackets lineup this season and has seen his time-on-ice drop from 14:31 to 12:50. He has been in and out of the lineup as a healthy scratch and how now been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. He will likely be replaced by Yegor Chinakhov, who was recalled by the Blue Jackets on Friday.

Talbot has been the only reliable netminder for the Kings this season and as such, appears to be the starter on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. In seven games (4-2-1), Talbot has a respectable 2.47 GAA and .914 SV% but has been even more impressive of late, allowing only five goals (.936 SV%) in his last three contests (2-0-1). The Kings are slight -109 road favourites against a Senators team that, despite an unremarkable 4-4-0 start, has had no trouble scoring goals, ranking fifth in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).

Talbot has been the only reliable netminder for the Kings this season and as such, appears to be the starter on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. In seven games (4-2-1), Talbot has a respectable 2.47 GAA and .914 SV% but has been even more impressive of late, allowing only five goals (.936 SV%) in his last three contests (2-0-1). The Kings are slight -109 road favourites against a Senators team that, despite an unremarkable 4-4-0 start, has had no trouble scoring goals, ranking fifth in the league offensively (4.00 GF / GP).

Merzlikins will get the start on Thursday as he is desperate to snap his current three-game losing streak but will be hard-pressed to do so against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After posting a.920 SV% in his first three games (2-1-0), Merzlikins has struggled since, failing to record a victory (0-1-2) while posting a .875 SV%. The Blue Jackets are +139 home underdogs as the Lightning will be looking to rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss on Monday against the Seattle Kraken.

Talbot will start for the Kings on Tuesday as they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. Talbot, who has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% through six games (3-2-1), has been the clear favourite between the pipes for the Kings as backup Phoenix Copley has struggled tremendously with a horrid 4.98 GAA and .788 SV% through three games (1-0-1). The Kings are +140 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs team that has points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Heinen has been at camp with Boston on a PTO since the preseason and will make his season debut on Monday after he finally signed a one-year, $775,000 contract earlier today. The 28-year-old left-winger had eight goals, 14 assists, 96 SOG, 12 PIMs, and a -5 plus/minus in 65 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23. He is entering his eighth NHL season and returns to Boston where he spent the first four years of his career. Patrick Brown will sit out in place of Heinen.

Heinen has been at camp with Boston on a PTO since the preseason and has finally signed a one-year, $775,000 contract Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger had eight goals, 14 assists, 96 SOG, 12 PIMs, and a -5 plus/minus in 65 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23. He is entering his eighth NHL season and returns to Boston where he spent the first four years of his career.