Fix-Wolansky has been among the league leaders in the AHL for the past two seasons but has been unable to translate that success to the NHL level, scoring only four points (2G / 2A) in 25 career games with the Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old has 58 points (24G / 34A) in 55 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets News
Fantili has not played since January and was originally expected to return this season. Fantilli ends the season with 27 points (12G / 15A), 115 shots, and 46 hits, in 49 games, one of the few bright spots on the Blue Jackets' season.
Fix-Wolansky has been among the league leaders in the AHL for the past two seasons but has been unable to translate that success to the NHL level, scoring only four points (2G / 2A) in 25 career games with the Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old has 58 points (24G / 34A) in 55 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
Aston-Reese has been limited to only one NHL game this season but could draw back into the Red Wings lineup after being recalled on an emergency basis. The 29-year-old has 29 points (14G / 15A) in 59 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).
The Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves between the pipes for the third time in the last four games on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Greaves has been stellar in two games since his most recent call-up, allowing two or fewer goals in each contest, including saving 37 of 39 shots (.949 SV%) on Saturday in a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. That said, the Blue Jackets enter action as significant +292 road underdogs.
Fix-Wolansky just surpassed a career-high in games played with 10 on Thursday but has been reassigned to Cleveland (AHL) on Friday. The 24-year-old failed to produce during his short stint with the Blue Jackets, with only one assist, 14 SOG and a -2 plus/minus in 10 games played.
Gaudreau did not play in the Blue Jackets' 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday but will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Gaudreau has nearly been a point-per-game player in the second half of the season, scoring 31 points (4G / 27A) in his last 33 games after scoring only 25 (7G / 8A) in his previous 42.
With Elvis Merzlikins (lower body) also day-to-day due to an injury, Columbus will have to call-up a goaltender as they are without an update on Daniil Tarasov after he left Thursday's game early due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old has been on a bit of a tear lately, with his 5-5-1 record and .933 SV% in his last 13 games played.
Tarasov suffered the injury in the first period of Thursday's game and was unable to return. We should expect to receive an update on his injury and a possible timeline for his return following the completion of Thursday's game. Backup netminder Jet Greaves will replace Tarasov for the remainder of the game.
Fix-Wolansky will fill in for Johnny Gaudreau, who is out with an illness. Fix-Wolansky has no goals and one assist in nine games this season.
Gaudreau was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Blue Jackets not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Columbus' 9.75 million-dollar-man has just 11 goals on the season, but has managed to rack up 45 assists in 75 games.
Jiricek has split time this season between the Blue Jackets and the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) but has not played an NHL game in a few months. The Czech defender has nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 games with the Blue Jackets this season.
The Blue Jackets will turn to Tarasov in the crease for the second straight game on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Tarasov was outstanding in his last outing, saving 45 of 46 shots (.978 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the typically high-scoring Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets are riding a two-game winning streak and enter action as +158 road underdogs.
Fix-Wolansky has become an elite offensive contributor at the AHL level but has not been able to translate that into NHL success. The 24-year-old has 58 points (24G / 34A) in 54 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season but only has four points (2G / 2A) in 24 career NHL games.
Jiricek was sent down to Cleveland (AHL) earlier in the week but has been recalled on an emergency basis on Tuesday ahead of Columbus' game Thursday vs. the Islanders. The 20-year-old budding superstar has appeared in 36 games for the Blue Jackets this season and has a goal, nine points, 20 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus.
Jakub Lauko will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing van Riemsdyk to re-enter the lineup. The 34-year-old van Riemsdyk has struggled tremendously lately to produce offence, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 15 games.
Alexandre Carrier will return to the Predators lineup from a three-game absence, sending Fabbro to the press box as a healthy scratch. Fabbro has 13 points (3G / 10A) in 54 games this season.