James Malatesta has been sent down to Cleveland (AHL) after making his season debut with Columbus. Malatesta was a fifth-round pick, 133rd overall, of the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 25 games with Cleveland (AHL) this season. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jackets recalled Denton Mateychuk from Cleveland.
Mateychuk was the 12th overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play and NHL game. He has 25 points (9G / 16A) in 27 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jackets have loaned James Malatesta to Cleveland.
Trenin has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury suffered on December 12th. In his first season with Minnesota, Trenin is averaging 13:37 time-on-ice, recording three points (2G / 1A) and 82 hits in 29 games.
Despite battling a lower-body injury, Werenski still played a whopping 27:32 time-on-ice in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Werenski has been incredible this season, pacing for career bests in all offensive categories, scoring 32 points (11G / 21A) and averaging a career-high 26:26 in 34 games.
Fabbro exited Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning early in the second period after a knee-on-knee collision with Conor Geekie and has not played since. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging 19:19 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 24 games this season.
The Red Wings have been outscored 9-4 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) and will turn to Talbot between the pipes on the final day before the holiday break. The 37-year-old Talbot has a solid 2.78 GAA and .914 SV% in 17 outings (6-7-2) but has lost four straight, posting a .882 SV%. The Red Wings enter Monday's contest as -110 home favorites against a St. Louis Blues club that has only scored three goals in their last three games (0-2-1).
The Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves for the fourth time in the last seven games on Monday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. The 23-year-old Greaves has not recorded a win yet this season but has been serviceable between the pipes, posting a 3.30 GAA and .896 SV% in three games (0-1-2). The Blue Jackets enter Monday's contest as -129 home favorites against a Canadiens club outscoring their opposition 15-5 during a three-game winning streak.
The Bruins have points in four straight (3-0-1) and will turn to Swayman in the crease on Monday against the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Swayman has an unimpressive 3.13 GAA and .887 SV% in 24 games (11-10-3) but has been playing better lately, allowing three or fewer goals in nine of his last 10 (6-3-1), posting a .892 SV%. The Bruins enter Monday's contest as -124 home favorites against a Capitals club that defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 yesterday.
On the final day before the holiday break, the Islanders will roll with Sorokin between the pipes for an 11th straight game. Sorokin saved 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.82 GAA and .903 SV% in 24 games this season (10-10-4), tarnished by his .856 SV% in his last four games (2-2-0). The Islanders enter Monday's contest as -147 home favorites against a reeling Buffalo Sabres squad amid a 13-game losing skid (0-10-3).
