Columbus Blue Jackets News

Monahan was a last minute scratch on Monday after taking full part in warmups. Zach Aston-Reese will draw into the lineup in his place.

The Blue Jackets have repeatedly shown their lack of trust towards Elvis Merzlikins in recent weeks, and will do so again on Monday, turning to Greaves on back-to-back nights. The 24-year-old Greaves was solid in yesterday's 4-2 win over the New York Islanders, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%). He has a 2.66 GAA and .907 SV% in 24 games this season (10-9-5).

With healthy bodies returning to Pittsburgh's lineup, Heinen was placed on waivers with the intention of being assigned to the AHL, but has instead been sent to the Columbia Blue Jackets via trade. The 30-year-old Heinen has spent most of the season in the AHL, where he scored an impressive 17 points (6G / 11A) in 12 games with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL).

With healthy bodies return to Pittsburgh's lineup, Heinen was placed on waivers and will be reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). Before being called up in November, Heinen was having a tremendous run at the AHL level, with 17 points (6G / 11A) in 12 games.

Werenski was not on the ice for Saturday's practice and remains day-to-day with the lower-body injury that he suffered last Saturday. He will not play on Sunday vs. the Islanders, which makes him questionable heading into next week when the Blue Jackets have four games on tap. He was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to December 20th, so he is eligible to return to the lineup at any time.

Greaves has been the go-to netminder for the Blue Jackets over the past several weeks, and it appears that trend will not change after returning from the Holiday Break. The 24-year-old Greaves has been solid in his first full-time NHL season, posting a 2.69 GAA and .906 SV% in 23 games (9-9-5). He was excellent in his previous game, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Werenski was not on the ice for Saturday's practice and remains day-to-day with the lower-body injury that he suffered last Saturday. He will not play on Sunday vs. the Islanders, which makes him questionable heading into next week when the Blue Jackets have four games on-tap.

Wood did not play in the Blue Jackets' most recent game due to a lower-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Wood is averaging 13:39 time-on-ice, recording 47 shots, 35 hits, and 12 points (8G / 4A) in 28 games this season.

Despite only winning one of his last nine games (1-5-3), Greaves has unquestionably been the most reliable Blue Jackets netminder, and he will return to the crease on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old Greaves has a serviceable 2.77 GAA and .904 SV% in 22 games this season (8-9-5). The Blue Jackets enter Monday's action as +144 road underdogs against a Kings team that has scored two or fewer goals in five straight games (1-2-2).

Werenski was in severe difficulty exiting the ice in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old defenseman will not play on Monday, but his prognosis is positive, and he is expected to only be sidelined on a day-to-day basis. Werenski is having another elite season from the blueline, with 40 points (14G / 26A) in 35 games. He played 81 games last season, but has faced injury trouble over the course of his career, so there is always extra concern whenever an injury arises.

Werenski was in a lot of discomfort on Saturday and had to crawl to the bench to get off the ice. Luckily, tests reportedly revealed no broken bones and Werenski is considered day-to-day. It seems unlikely that he'll play Monday in Los Angeles, but he could be ready after the Christmas break, when the Blue Jackets take on the Islanders on Saturday (Dec.28).