Between Daniil Tarasov and Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets have allowed five or more goals in three of their last four games (1-3-0). As such, the Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves between the pipes for his first NHL game of the season. The 23-year-old Greaves has played 10 career NHL games (7-3-0), posting a 3.44 GAA and .912 SV%. He has a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
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 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).
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.
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.
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).
