Columbus Blue Jackets News

The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four (3-1-0) and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Merzlikins was solid in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old netminder has a 3.07 GAA and .891 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-3). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favorites against a Red Wings club outscoring their opposition 8-4 during a two-game winning streak.

The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four (3-1-0) and will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Merzlikins was solid in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old netminder has a 3.07 GAA and .891 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-3). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favorites against a Red Wings club outscoring their opposition 8-4 during a two-game winning streak.

The Blue Jackets are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins and will revert to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Merzlikins was solid in his previous outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Bruins. He has a 3.09 GAA and .890 SV% in 23 games this season (11-9-3) and has not finished a season with a record above .500 since the 2021-22 campaign. The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +188 home underdogs against a Hurricanes club that defeated them 4-1 two weeks ago.

Harris has been a lineup-regular for the Blue Jackets lately but will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Boston Bruins. The 24-year-old defenseman is averaging 11:58 time-on-ice, scoring two points (1G / 1A).

Merzlikins was battling an undisclosed injury, preventing him from playing the Blue Jackets' previous game, but he appears no worse for wear and will return to the crease on Friday against the Boston Bruins. Merzlikins allowed five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in his previous outing, a 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He has a 3.13 GAA and .889 SV% in 22 games this season (10-9-3). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +141 home underdogs against a Bruins club they will play again on Saturday.

Severson was a surprise scratch on Monday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. The 30-year-old Severson is averaging 22:25 time-on-ice, recording 17 points (6G / 11A), 67 blocks, and 22 hits 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.

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.

Severson was a surprise scratch on Monday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. Severson did take part in the team's morning skate and stayed on for extra work, which suggests he may be a healthy scratch. Denton Mateychuk will draw into the lineup and make his NHL debut in place of Severson.

Danforth has missed six straight games since suffering a lower-body injury on December 10th. The 31-year-old Danforth is averaging a career-high 15:20 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 25 games this season.

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.

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 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.