Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins has not played since December 5th, when he was placed on injured reserve with an illness but participated in morning skate on Thursday and will start for the Blue Jackets after being activated from IR. Before being placed on IR, Merzlikins was playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% during a 3-2-1 stretch. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +211 road underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have collected at least a point in seven straight contests (5-0-2).

Merzlikins has not played since December 5th, when he was placed on injured reserve with an illness but participated in morning skate on Thursday and will likely start for the Blue Jackets after being activated from IR. Before being placed on IR, Merzlikins was playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% during a 3-2-1 stretch. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +211 road underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have collected at least a point in seven straight contests (5-0-2).

The incident occurred in Sunday's game between the Panthers and Blue Jackets after Cousins was penalized for boarding Gudbranson earlier in the game. Gudbranson will miss Thursday's game against the Leafs as a result and will be eligible to return for Saturday's game against the Devils.

With Elvis Merzlikins unable to play due to an illness, Greaves was forced to play on the back end of a back-to-back on Friday and was rewarded another start on Sunday after a strong performance. In two games (1-1-), the 22-year-old Greaves saved 72 of 77 shots (.935 SV%) and posted a 2.52 GAA. He will now return to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL as Columbus has recalled Daniil Tarasov.

Greaves has yet to appear in an NHL game this season but had a respectable 9-3-0 record, 3.09 GAA and .899 SV% with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) prior to his call up and will take on St. Louis Friday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has only appeared in one other NHL game, picking up the loss while posting a .939 SV% and a 3.05 GAA. He will hope to pick up his first career win Friday as the Blue Jackets host the Blues, who have lost four of their last seven games and are 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.88).

Andrew Peeke will fill in for Gudbranson again as he will miss his second consecutive game. Gudbranson has played 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus.

With the sudden news of Elvis Merzlikins (illness) being placed on the IR, Jet Greaves has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL) for the first time this season on an emergency basis Wednesday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has put up a great record (9-3-0) despite his struggles this season as he has an .899 SV% and 3.09 GAA with Cleveland to start the year. He has appeared in one NHL game previously in his career.

Sillinger has been playing some of his best hockey of late but is considered week-to-week after he was placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday with an upper-body injury. The 20-year-old is in his third NHL season and has a goal, eight assists, 42 SOG, 15 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 24 games so far this season.

Merzlikins was surprisingly placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday as he battles illness and is expected to be out for at least a week. The 29-year-old has been solid despite the team in front of him struggling this season as he is 6-8-4 with a .910 SV% and a 3.10 GAA. Jet Greaves has been recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland (AHL) to replace Merzlikins.

Nichuskin is battling an illness and will not play on Tuesday. The Avalanche, already without Cale Makar, will be hurting without the offensive talents of Nichushkin, who has been tremendous lately, posting 13 points (8G / 5A) in his last 11 games playing predominantly on the top line and top powerplay unit.

Andrew Peeke will draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets in place of Gudbranson.Gudbranson has played all 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus through 26 games.

Copley and Cam Talbot were originally slated to be a timeshare tandem, but a horrid start to the season for Copley derailed that plan and saw him see limited action in the first six weeks of the season. Since then, Copley has regained some trust from the Kings' coaching staff, as he has a sensational .980 SV% across his last two outings (2-0-0) and will start for the third time in seven games. The Kings have a favourable matchup for Copley on Tuesday as they are -199 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that ranks in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.85 GF / GP).