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Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins will start vs. San Jose on Thursday.

The red-hot Blue Jackets have won five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Merzlikins was excellent in his previous outing, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. He has a 3.12 GAA and .889 SV% in 28 games this season (15-10-3). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -163 home favorites against a Sharks team that snapped the Detroit Red Wings' seven-game winning streak with a 6-3 win on Tuesday.

Elvis Merzlikins
Nichushkin (lower-body) skated on Wednesday but is still at least a week away from returning.

Nichushkin has not played since December 31st and has missed seven straight games. Originally given a day-to-day timeline, Nichushkin, and the Avalanche have been patient with his recovery and have not rushed his return to the lineup. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Valeri Nichushkin
Monahan has a sprained wrist and is expected to miss at least the next 7-10 days.

It's unclear when Monahan suffered his wrist injury in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he did not appear in the third period, finishing the game with only 12:26 time-on-ice. Thankfully for Monahan and the Blue Jackets, he will not require surgery and should not be out for a significant amount of time. Monahan, in his age-30 season, was producing at a point-per-game pace for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.

Sean Monahan
Greaves has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL).

Daniil Tarasov has only played on game in the last month has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for a conditioning stint, swapping places with Greaves. The 23-year-old Greaves has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL but has seen some NHL action as well, posting a 3.48 GAA and .890 SV% in four outings (1-1-2).

Jet Greaves
Merzlikins will start vs. Seattle on Thursday.

The Blue Jackets are riding a two-game winning streak and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for a fifth straight outing. Merzlikins allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his most recent contest but was strong enough for a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.17 GAA and .887 SV% in 27 games this season (14-10-3). He has not finished a season with a winning record since the 2021-22 campaign. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +109 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken squad amid a three-game losing skid (0-2-1).

Elvis Merzlikins
Del Bel Belluz is expected to make his season debut vs. Seattle on Thursday.

With Sean Monahan (wrist) sidelined, the Blue Jackets have recalled Del Bel Belluz from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 21-year-old Del Bel Belluz made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in one game. He leads the AHL with 37 points (17G / 20A) in 34 games this season.

Luca Del Bel Belluz
Monahan (wrist) has been placed on IR.

It's unclear when Monahan suffered his wrist injury in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he did not appear in the third period, finishing the game with only 12:26 time-on-ice. The team is waiting for results from a bone scan to have a more concrete timeline for his return. Monahan, in his age-30 season, was producing at a point-per-game pace for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.

Sean Monahan
Monahan is expected to miss some time with a wrist injury.

It's unclear when Monahan suffered his wrist injury in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he did not appear in the third period, finishing the game with only 12:26 time-on-ice. The team is waiting for results from a bone scan to have a more concrete timeline for his return. Monahan, in his age-30 season, was producing at a point-per-game pace for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.

Sean Monahan