Greaves' call-up could be an indication that Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov are battling injuries but nothing has been announced yet. The 23-year-old Greaves served as a backup with Columbus earlier this season but has predominantly been in the AHL, recording a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).
Merzlikins was stellar in his previous outing, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, and will return to the crease for a third consecutive game on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.95 GAA and .893 SV% in 18 games this season (18-9-2). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Flyers club riding a three-game losing skid.
Merzlikins was stellar in his previous outing, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, and will return to the crease for a third consecutive game on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.95 GAA and .893 SV% in 18 games this season (18-9-2). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Flyers club riding a three-game losing skid.
Pyyhtia will be the odd-man out on Friday as James van Riemsdyk draws back into the Blue Jackets lineup. Pyyhtia has just one goal and one assist in 18 games this season.
Merzlikins will make his 17th start of the season when the Blue Jackets travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Friday. Merzlikins took the loss his last time out, allowing two goals on 21 shots in a 3-0 defeat in Calgary on Tuesday. The 30-year-old netminder owns an 8-6-2 record to go along with an .894 SV% and 3.00 GAA on the season. Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets enter action in Vancouver on Friday at +185 on the money line.
James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pyyhtia to re-enter the lineup for the first time since November 16th. The 22-year-old Pyyhtia is averaging 13:57 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in 17 games.
The Flyers are riding a three-game winning streak and will turn to Fedotov between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Fedotov has a 3.39 GAA and .881 SV% in nine games (4-4-1) but was solid in his previous outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +148 home underdogs against a Panthers club with points in four straight (3-0-1).
The Blue Jackets have on five of their last six and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes for the seventh consecutive game. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.07 GAA and .894 SV% in 15 appearances this season (8-5-2). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +111 road underdogs against a Calgary Flames club on a four-game losing skid (0-3-1).
Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Fasching to re-enter the lineup. Fasching has been limited to five games this season and has not played since November 5th. He is averaging 6:50 time-on-ice, recording zero points, two blocks, and one hit.
Sillinger will return to the lineup after a one-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The 21-year-old Sillinger already has 240 NHL games to his name and has been productive this season, scoring 12 points (3G / 9A) in 20 contests while averaging a career-high 18:06 time-on-ice.
Chinakhov has been one of the best offensive producers for the Blue Jackets this season but will not play on Friday. The 23-year-old is averaging a career-high 17:01 time-on-ice and has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 21 games this season.
The Blue Jackets will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for a fifth straight game. Despite allowing four or more goals in three of his last four, Merzlikins has salvaged a 3-1-0 record. The 30-year-old Latvian netminder has a 3.15 GAA and .890 SV% in 13 games this season (6-5-2). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Friday as slight -108 home favorites against a Calgary Flames club riding a two-game losing skid.
