Werenski left Saturday's game with a shoulder injury and the Blue Jackets announced on Sunday that he'll be out for at least four weeks. Werenski's injury leaves the Blue Jackets with six healthy defensemen, so look for them to call someone up from Cleveland (AHL) before Tuesday's game. Don't expect to see Werenski until late-December/early-January.
Merzlikins gave up four goals on 31 shots in the Blue Jackets loss in Winnipeg last Saturday. Merzlikins is still winless in five NHL appearances but is coming off of a win in the AHL earlier in the week. Tonight he faces an Islanders team that has won nine of their last 10 while scoring 3.80 goals per game on home-ice this season.
This is the second time that the Blue Jackets have done this. They want Merzlikins to get some playing time and with Joonas Korpisalo playing well, he's not going to get that in Columbus right now. Merzlikins allowed one goal on 29 shots in a losing effort in his only AHL game.
The Flyers did not disclose what kind of injury that Provorov is dealing with, but he will take part in warmups and remains a game-time decision. Monitor his status as the 1:00 pm puck-drop draws near.
Jaros played 10:21 TOI while picking up four PIMS and a minus-1 rating in his season debut vs. the Rangers last night. With the Senators off until Monday, Jaros' return to the AHL suggests that they expect one of Erik Brannstrom, Nikita Zaitsev or Cody Goloubef to be ready to play.
Cody Goloubef was hurt in the morning skate, so Jaros comes up and will make his season debut on Friday. Jaros, who has six points (1G / 5A) in 14 AHL games this season, has registered 10 points (1G / 9A) in 63 career NHL games with Ottawa.
Olivier, who has seven points (2G / 5A) and 37 PIMS in 17 AHL games, was recalled on Monday and is expected to replace Kyle Turris in the lineup on Tuesday. Olivier is a 6-foot-1, 222 lbs. winger that will skate on the fourth line with Colton Sissons and Auston Watson.
Olivier has scored two goals with five assists in 17 games with Milwaukee this season. The undrafted free agent could make his NHL debut vs. the Jets on Tuesday.
White was a fourth-round pick in 2015 and appeared in three NHL games with the Devils last season. The 22-year-old defenseman, who has three assists in 15 AHL games this season, could make his season debut on Friday night. Sami Vatanen (upper-body) was moved to IR to make room for White.
Merzlikins went down to get some playing time with Cleveland but was called back up quicker than originally planned. Joonas Korpisalo struggled last week, so Merzlikins returns after one game and will start Tuesday.
Merzlikins was sent to Cleveland (AHL) late last week to get some playing time but returned quicker than originally planned because Joonas Korpisalo struggled in Colorado on Saturday. Merzlikins hasn't been great this year either, going 0-1-2 with a. 3.90 GAA and .882 SV%. The Canadiens are 5-3-0 with 3.50 goals per game in eight games in Montreal.
With Columbus heading out on a three-game road trip that does not have a back-to-back, Merzlikins heads to Cleveland just to get some playing time. The 25-year-old is 0-1-2 with the Blue Jackets so far this season and will get some AHL starts before likely returning to the NHL next week. Matiss Kivlenieks comes up to take his spot as the backup goalie.
Merzlikins stopped all 19 shots that he faced after replacing Joonas Korpisalo in the Blue Jackets loss to the Oilers on Wednesday. Tonight will be Merzlikins' first start since October 18th and he comes in having allowed a combined 10 goals on 92 shots (.891 SV%) in three appearances this season. Even without Vladimir Tarasenko, the Blues present a difficult road test--there are better options than Merzlikins tonight.
Nichushkin has just one assist in his first five games with the Avalanche and will rest Wednesday in Pittsburgh. J.T. Compher is returning from a lower-body injury, replacing Nichushkin in their bottom-6.
