Columbus Blue Jackets News

Gudbranson was suspended one game for being the aggressor in his altercation with Nick Cousins of the Florida Panthers. Gudbranson did not play on Thursday but will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Gudbranson has 10 points (2G / 8A), 23 hits, and 66 blocks while averaging 19:34 time-on-ice through 27 games this season.

Aston-Reese made his Red Wings debut earlier this week, playing 6:21 time-on-ice and registering two hits. He will return to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL where he has seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games.

Zamula will take a seat in favour of Marc Staal on Thursday. The young defenseman has one goal and three assists in 21 games with the Flyers this season.

Zamula has dressed in the Flyers last three games but will head to the press box Thursday vs. Washington as Marc Staal steps back into Philadelphia's lineup. The 23-year-old defender will get the night off but has been having an impressive season as he's set career highs in games played (21), goals (1), PIMs (12) and SOG (19) already while having a +9 plus/minus.

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).

Aston-Reese will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Wings opt to dress seven defensemen. He played less than seven minutes in his Red Wings debut in Dallas on Monday.

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.

Aston-Reese and Austin Czarnik have both been recalled from Grand Rapids of the AHL for a Red Wings team that is suddenly experiencing a myriad of injuries, most notably with Dylan Larkin (upper-body) and J.T. Compher (soreness) on the injured reserve. Aston-Reese has not played with the Red Wings yet this season but has seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games with Grand Rapids.

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).