Columbus Blue Jackets News

Merzlikins exploded onto the scene in his first year in North America, going 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and five shutouts. Merzlikins went on an eight-game winning streak from mid-January to mid-February and was hurt right before the season paused. This signing comes less than a week after Columbus signed Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year, $5.6 million extension ($2.8M AAV), so they've got their young goaltending duo tied up for the next two seasons at a $6.9M AAV cap-hit.

van Riemsdyk will miss at least one month after breaking his hand in Washington on Wednesday. If he misses the minimum four weeks, van Riemsdyk will be back just in time for the start of the playoffs. Joel Farabee will replace him in Thursday’s lineup but Derek Grant will take his spot on PP2.

van Riemsdyk left Wednesday’s game after blocking a Jonas Siegenthaler shot and did not return. van Riemsdyk immediately underwent X-rays and it was determined that he suffered a broken right hand and will be sidelined for some time. Head coach Alain Vigneault did not know the severity of it post-game but expect him to be re-evaluated and for the Flyers to release a detailed timeline prior to Thursday’s game vs. the Hurricanes. Joel Farabee was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) and will replace van Riemsdyk in the lineup on Thursday.

Thurkauf, 22, played in three straight NHL games but returns to the AHL with Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash returning to the Blue Jackets lineup. Thurkauf has nine goals and 16 assists (25 points) in 47 games with Cleveland.

Merzlikins was hurt in a collision with Anthony Duclair midway through the second period and as taken out of Monday's game. The Blue Jackets announced that he will not return. Luckily, they just got Joonas Korpisalo back and he entered the game for the rookie netminder.

Gudbranson has been out for the last eight games and the updated timetable suggests he'll miss at least seven more. Brendan Guhle has been bumped into a top-4 role.

Thurkauf made his NHL debut in Nashville on Saturday, playing 8:01 TOI. The 22-year-old former seventh-round pick has picked up 25 points (9G / 16A) in 47 AHL games this season and is expected to be back on a line with Kevin Stenlund and Emil Bemstrom.

Merzlikins stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced on Monday, falling to the Lightning 2-1 in overtime. Merzlikins is on an absolute tear right now. He's won 10 of his last 13 starts, posting a .951 SV% in the process. He draws another strong matchup tonight against the Rangers.

Merzlikins allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Blue Jackets loss to the Avalanche. Merzlikins actually lost a game. It happened. Still, it was a strong showing for the rookie netminder, who is 8-1-0 with a 1.12 GAA, .962 SV% and five shutouts in the last month. Tonight he faces a Lightning team that has gone 18-2-1 in his last 21 games, but Merzlikins is too hot to put on your bench right now.

Gudbranson played just 3:35 TOI in Toronto on Friday before leaving the game with an upper-body injury. Brendan Guhle and Josh Mahura were recalled from the AHL and one of them will replace him in the lineup today in Buffalo.

Merzlikins stopped all 16 shots that he faced inn last night's shutout win over the Red Wings. Yet another shutout for Merzlikins, who is 8-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA, .967 SV% and five shutouts in his last eight starts. Even with a rough matchup with the Avalanche in town, Merzlikins is too hot to fade right now.