Olivier will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup along with Kent Johnson as Cole Sillinger is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, and Eric Robinson will be a healthy scratch. In 12 games this season, Olivier has three points (0G / 3A), 12 penalty minutes, and 30 hits, averaging 9:48 time-on-ice.
Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will likely start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.
Sillinger has been playing some of his best hockey of late but is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury for the time being and will miss Friday's game vs. Ottawa. 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.
Sillinger exited Wednesday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens with an undisclosed injury and his status on Friday against the Ottawa Senators doesn't seem promising after he was unable to participate in practice on Thursday. The Blue Jackets also recalled Kent Johnson from Cleveland (AHL), adding to the speculation that Sillinger could miss some time.
Johnson will head back to Columbus four weeks after his surprise demotion to Cleveland (AHL) after he was recalled to replace the injured Damon Severson (oblique). The 21-year-old high-end prospect has re-found his game in the minors, with five goals, 10 assists, and a +5 plus/minus in 10 games played. He returns to Blue Jackets, where he had 16 goals, 24 assists, 126 SOG and 14 PIMs in 79 games played in 2022-23.
Severson exited last Sunday's contest with an upper-body injury, playing only 9:57 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Severson had three points (2G / 1A) in his last two games and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 19 games this season. He has now been placed on injured reserve and is about one week through his original six-to-eight-week recovery timeline. The move to IR has allowed the Blue Jackets to recall Kent Johnson.
Merzlikins will start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.
Merzlikins will likely start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.
Labanc missed the Sharks' last two games due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Saturday vs. Vancouver in place of Filip Zadina (upper body). The 27-year-old right-winger has struggled out of the gate this season, with no goals, two assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 13 games prior to his injury.
van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch on Friday but will draw back into the lineup for the second half of the Bruins' back-to-back. van Riemsdyk, who has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 18 games, will replace Patrick Brown in the lineup after Brown was assigned to the AHL.
Labanc missed the Sharks' previous game due to an upper body injury and was a game-time decision Friday vs. Montreal but is on the ice for warm ups. The 27-year-old right-winger has had a horrendous 2023-24 season, with only two assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 13 games played.
Moran Geekie will draw back into the Bruins lineup on Friday, allowing the 34-year-old Van Riemsdyk to rest on the front end of a back-to-back. Van Riemsdyk has been terrific this season, tallying 13 points (5G / 8A) in 18 games while seeing top powerplay deployment. He is on pace for his highest point total in a season since scoring 54 with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017-18.
The Sharks will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen on Wednesday as Labanc will be out of the lineup with an upper-body injury. Labanc only has two points (0G / 2A) in 13 games this season along with a -8 plus/minus rating.
Fabbro has two goals, three assists, 19 SOG, six PIMs, and a +4 plus/minus in 16 games played this season but will be the odd man out of the Predators' lineup Wednesday vs. Calgary. The 25-year-old defenseman will be replaced by Ryan McDonagh (injury) in Nashville's lineup.
Merzlikins will attempt to win for the first time since November 2nd as the reeling Blue Jackets, who have lost nine straight (0-7-2), welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite being winless in his last six appearances (0-4-1), Merzlikins has managed to record a save percentage above .900 in four of those contests. The Blue Jackets rank sixth worst in the league offensively (2.68 GF / GP) but are still -139 home favourites against a Blackhawks team that is also struggling amid a four-game skid (0-4-0).
Harris joins the Canadiens' already lengthy list of injured players as it was announced Tuesday that he would be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old defensive defenseman has yet to find the back of the net this season with no goals, three assists, 12 SOG, eight PIMs, and a -7 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.
