An arrant puck hit and broke Marchenko's jaw while he was sitting on the bench in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. No timeline has been provided but the average downtime after a broken jaw is typically six-to-eight weeks. The 24-year-old Marchenko was having a breakout season, scoring 55 points (21G / 34A) in 53 games.
An arrant puck hit and broke Marchenko's jaw while he was sitting on the bench in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old will be out of the lineup indefinitely, a crushing blow of the Blue Jackets' offense. Marchenko was having a breakout season, scoring 55 points (21G / 34A) in 53 games.
Sillinger has not played the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 21-year-old Sillinger is averaging 17:40 time-on-ice and has 23 points (7G / 16A) in 45 games this season.
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings when Merzlikins saved 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%). Merzlikins will return to the crease on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, looking to improve his 2.95 GAA and .894 SV% through 32 games (18-11-3). The 30-year-old netminder has been solid lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (5-1-0), posting a .925 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +252 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has lost six of their last eight (2-4-2).
Sillinger was a surprise scratch before Wednesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and will remain out of the lineup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 21-year-old Sillinger is averaging 17:40 time-on-ice and has 23 points (7G / 16A) in 45 games this season.
Wood has not played since November 27th, missing 26 games due to an upper-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. Before his injury, the 29-year-old Wood was averaging 12:02 time-on-ice and had three points (2G / 1A) in 16 games this season.
Sillinger was a surprise scratch before Wednesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and his status remains uncertain on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 21-year-old Sillinger is averaging 17:40 time-on-ice and has 23 points (7G / 16A) in 45 games this season.
Sillinger was a surprise scratch on Wednesday with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team added he is considered day-to-day with the injury, making him unlikely to suit up for Thursday's game in Carolina.
Despite appearing to be shaken up at the morning skate, Merzlikins will make his 31st start of the season when the Blue Jackets travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Merzlikins didn't turn in his best performance his last time out, allowing three goals on 25 shots in a 3-1 loss on Long Island. The loss snapped a personal four-game winning streak for the 30-year-old netminder. Merzlikins carries a 16-11-3 record and an .890 SV% into Wednesday night's matchup. He'll have a hard time getting back in the win column against the Maple Leafs as the Blue Jackets enter action at +175 on the money line.
Merzlikins left the Blue Jackets' morning skate on Wednesday early due to an undisclosed ailment. It's unclear if this will affect his availability for Wednesday's tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
