Columbus Blue Jackets News

With Daniil Tarasov (illness) unable to play, Columbus will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on the tail end of their back-to-back. Merzlikins was excellent yesterday, saving 27 of 28 shots in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. The 30-year-old Latvian goalie has a 3.00 GAA and .897 SV% in 45 games this season (22-18-5). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as slight -102 road underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders.

The Blue Jackets have lost four straight (0-4-0) and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday as they desperately try to stay in contention for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Merzlikins allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 44 games this season (22-18-4). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +165 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team amid a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).

Monahan has not played since suffering a wrist injury in early January but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. 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.

Gardner was the 60th-overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old goalie has a 2.83 GAA and .911 SV% in 41 games with the Saskatoon Blades (WHL) this season.

Greaves was between the pipes for the Blue Jackets last night, saving 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but will return to the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6).

Gaunce will slot in for Marcus Foligno, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Gaunce is yet to register a point in seven games this season.

The reeling Flyers have lost six of their previous seven games (1-6-0) and will turn to Fedotov between the pipes on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fedotov struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old goalie has a 3.08 GAA and .884 SV% in 21 games this season (5-11-3). The Flyers enter Monday's contest as significant +244 road underdogs against a Lightning squad they defeated 4-3 in a shootout last week.

Graves played five games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season (2-1-2), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV%, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6). He will tend the twine on Monday in a matchup where the Blue Jackets are +120 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils squad that has won three of their previous four games (3-1-0).

Graves played five games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season (2-1-2), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV%, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6). He will likely tend the twine on Monday in a matchup where the Blue Jackets are +120 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils squad that has won three of their previous four games (3-1-0).

Chinakhov was a healthy scratch on Thursday but he will re-enter the lineup for Christian Fischer on Saturday. Chinakhov has failed to record a point in four games since returning from injury on March 4th.

Graves played five games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season (2-1-2), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV%, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6).

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 next week.

Christiansen was limited to only 5:27 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.

Christiansen was limited to only 5:27 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.

The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four (1-3-0) and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 30-year-old Merzlikins struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 43 games this season (22-17-4). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +150 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team amid a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

With Christian Fischer making his Blue Jackets debut on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Chinakhov will be the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Chinakhov has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 21 games this season before being sidelined due to an injury. In four games since returning to the lineup, Chinakhov has zero points and a -6 plus/minus rating.

The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four (1-3-0) and will likely turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 30-year-old Merzlikins struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 43 games this season (22-17-4). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +150 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team amid a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Wood will be scratched along with Jimmy Vesey and Erik Johnson as the Avalanche opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Logan O'Connor, Parker Kelly, and Sam Malinski will all draw in.