Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins was relied upon heavily after Rick Bowness took over as Head Coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he will return to the crease in their first game back from the Olympic break. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie was showcasing his most consistent goaltending in several seasons before the break, winning five of his last six outings (5-1-0), posting a tremendous 2.03 GAA and .924 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that entered the league stoppage on a 4-0-3 run.

Marchenko has been sidelined since January 31st due to a lower-body injury but he skated on his own on Wednesday and is expected to rejoin Columbus for a full practice on Saturday. The 25-year-old has been one of the Blue Jackets' best forwards yet again this season, with 19 goals, 46 points and 152 SOG in 50 games played in 2025-26.

Berni was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the tournament, but he'll replace Andrea Glauser (concussion) in the lineup on Sunday. Berni, a former Columbus Blue Jacket, has two goals and seven assists (nine points) in 44 games with Geneve Servette (National League) this season.

Merzlikins had a tough start to the season, but has settled in since the Blue Jackets made a coaching change. Overall, he's 11-8-1 with a 3.49 GAA and .888 SV% in 21 games. The last time he suited up for Latvia, he struggled, going 2-2-0 with a 4.80 GAA and .826 SV% at the 2024 World Championships.

Marchenko will in fact be unavailable on Wednesday despite Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness saying he was expected to play. The 25-year-old Marchenko has 46 points (19G / 27A) in 50 games this season, including five points (1G / 4A) in his last four games.

With Kirill Marchenko (illness) drawing back into the Blue Jackets' lineup, Heinen will be the odd-man out as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Heinen has four points (2G / 2A) in 25 games this season.

Out of precaution, Rick Bowness and the Columbus coaching staff opted not to have Marchenko travel with the team to avoid potentially spreading his illness at the start of their road trip. Still, he has since joined them and will be added to the lineup on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Marchenko has 46 points (19G / 27A) in 50 games this season, including five points (1G / 4A) in his last four games.

Elvis Merzlikins has become the go-to goalie for Columbus since Rick Bowness took over as the new Head Coach, but they will turn to Greaves on Wednesday in the tail end of a back-to-back. Despite the decrease in playing time, Greaves has remained reliable since the coaching change, posting a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV% in his last six games (5-1-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Wednesday as -147 home favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks, whom they defeated 4-2 less than a week ago.

Zamula will take a seat on Tuesday in order to make way for Dante Fabbro's return from a lower-body injury. Zamula has appeared in 23 games this season, logging zero goals and two assists.

Fabbro has not played in over two weeks, but will return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:07 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 48 games this season.

Garland recorded two assists in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth, but was absent from practice on Tuesday because of an illness. The 29-year-old's two-point performance snapped a frustrating and lengthy 13-game pointless streak.

Heinen has not played in nearly two weeks, but he will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 10:36 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 24 games this season.

Monahan exited Saturday's 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues early because of an illness, but should return to the lineup on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 31-year-old Monahan has three points (2G / 1A) in his last four games.

Out of precaution, Rick Bowness and the Columbus coaching staff opted not to have Marchenko travel with the team to avoid potentially spreading his illness. With Wednesday being the Blue Jackets' final game before the Olympic Break, Marchenko may remain sidelined until action resumes in late February, but he has not been ruled out yet.

Fabbro has not played in over two weeks, but could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:07 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 48 games this season.

The Blue Jackets are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, coinciding with Rick Bowness taking over head coaching duties and improved play by Merzlikins between the pipes. Since the coaching change, the 31-year-old Latvian goalie is sporting a solid 2.49 GAA and .909 SV% in five games. The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -107 road favourites against a struggling New Jersey Devils team that has lost three of its last four games (1-3-0).

Fabbro has not played in over two weeks, but could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:07 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 48 games this season.

Out of precaution, Rick Bowness and the Columbus coaching staff opted not to have Marchenko travel with the team to avoid potentially spreading his illness. With only two games for the Blue Jackets before the Winter Olympic break, Marchenko may be kept out of the lineup until action resumes in late February.