Nils Lundkvist (lower body) will return from an injury and Alex Petrovic will make his season debut for the Stars at Matt Dumba and Brendan Smith will be healthy scratches. The 35-year-old Smith has been serviceable in a limited capacity for the Stars, averaging 13:47 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in 12 games.
For the third time in the last five games, the Flyers will roll with Fedotov between the pipes. Fedotov has allowed four goals in three of his previous four games (2-1-1) and has a 3.69 GAA and .874 SV% in eight games this season (3-4-1). The Flyers enter the action on Friday as +127 road underdogs against a New York Rangers club riding a four-game losing skid.
With Daniil Tarsov under the weather, the Blue Jackets have recalled Greaves from the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 3.23 GAA and .908 SV% in 11 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (7-3-1).
The Blue Jackets have been a part of some rollercoaster outings lately, most recently a 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, and are riding a three-game winning streak. Despite an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, Merzlikins has been serviceable between the pipes, including posting a .890 SV% during a four-game winning streak. The Blue Jackets enter Wednesday's contest as -167 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens club that was defeated 3-2 in overtime last night by the Utah Hockey Club.
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. He will not play on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury.
For the fourth time in the last six games, the Flyers will turn to Fedotov in the crease. Fedotov struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 37 shots (.892 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, but has been reliable between the pipes lately, posting a .910 SV% in his last four games (3-1-0). That said, the Flyers enter the action on Monday as +120 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights club fresh off a 6-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Merzlikins surrendered six goals on 30 shots in the Blue Jackets 7-6 win over the Lightning on Thursday. It wasn't his best performance, but he did enough to earn his third-straight victory. Since returning from a personal leave, Merzlikins has gone 5-3-1 with a 2.88 GAA, .902 SV% and one shutout in nine appearances. He draws a tough assignment vs. a Hurricanes team with the third-most goals per game (3.9) in the NHL this season.
Merzlikins surrendered six goals on 30 shots in the Blue Jackets 7-6 win over the Lightning on Thursday. It wasn't his best performance but he did enough to earn his third-straight victory. Since returning from a personal leave, Merzlikins has gone 5-3-1 with a 2.88 GAA, .902 SV% and one shutout in nine appearances. He draws a tough assignment vs. a Hurricanes team with the third-most goals per game (3.9) in the NHL this season.
The Blue Jackets have had an up-and-down season, mirrored by the play of Merzlikins, who will return to the crease on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1) and has been extra impressive lately, winning two straight and posting a .942 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +146 home underdogs against a Lightning club riding a three-game winning streak.
Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.
Smith has played the previous fur games, recording three points (0G / 3A), but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Nils Lundkvist to draw back into the lineup. The 35-year-old Smith is averaging 13:53 time-on-ice and has three points (0G / 3A) in nine games this season.
Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.
Pyyhtia has played 17 games with the Blue Jackets this season, averaging 13:57 time-on-ice and scoring one point (1G / 0A). The 22-year-old has been sent down to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), likely making room for Kent Johnson (upper body) to return to the Blue Jackets lineup.
After a rough start to the season, Fedotov has been excellent lately and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Fedotov has a 3.64 GAA and .871 SV% in six games (3-3-0) but is riding a three-game winning streak, posting a solid .918 SV%. That said, the Flyers enter the action on Wednesday as +194 home underdogs against a Hurricanes club that defeated them 6-4 two weeks ago.
James van Riemsdyk will draw back into the lineup on Monday, sending Pyyhtia to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Pyyhtia has one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus in 17 games this season.
Merzlikins helped the Blue Jackets snap a six-game losing skid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they returned to the losing column in the following game. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.92 GAA and .898 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action as +165 road underdogs against the Boston Bruins.
Wood has not played since October 28th but, after being activated from Injured Reserve, will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. Wood joins Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) as players making long-awaited returns to the lineup.
