<p>The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that forward Patrik Laine and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins have been activated off injured reserve.</p>



<p>The team has also sent down goaltender Daniil Tarasov to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters as a corresponding move. </p>



<p>Laine has missed the past seven games after suffering a sprained ankle on Nov. 12 in a game against the New York Islanders. He also previously sat out early in the season with a wrist injury, limiting him to four points in eight games. Laine is in the first year of a four-year deal worth $8.7 million, and he’ll immediately return to his role as an impact goal-scorer for a team that needs it badly.</p>



<p>Merzlikins left Columbus’ Nov. 15 game against Philadelphia early with a hip injury. Prior to that, he had a 2-5-0 record with a .864 save percentage, putting him near the bottom among all goaltenders. Merzlikins had a rough go in the games leading up to his injury, allowing at least three goals in every start but the game in which he got injured.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="177"></div>



<p>Joonas Korpisalo has manned the crease for the most part in Merzlikins’ absence, now sitting at a 3-4-1 record. Tarasov has looked the best of the three goalies with a 2-3-1 record and a .912 save percentage as an NHL rookie. The three goalies have nearly split the entire season, as Korpisalo himself had to deal with an injury to kick off the season.</p>



<p>The Blue Jackets play next on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, so expect both to return heading into the weekend. The Blue Jackets are amid a three-game losing streak and sit last in the Eastern Conference with just 16 points in 21 games.</p>



<p>While it’s unlikely Laine or Merzlikins will do much to change Columbus’ fortunes, they’ll both be welcomed back with open arms after a tough start to the season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>
