Florida acquired its new backup goaltender for the upcoming 2025-26 season on Thursday after picking up Daniil Tarasov from Columbus for a 2025 5th-round pick (160th overall). The 26-year-old, whose dad has ties back in Russia with Sergei Bobrovsky, struggled in 2024-25 with the Blue Jackets, posting an ugly 7-10-2 record alongside his 3.54 GAA and .881 SV%.

The Blue Jackets are playing the tail end of a back-to-back on Friday and were anticipating having Tarasov tend the twine, but he is battling an illness and will not be able to suit up. Elvis Merzlikins will start for the second consecutive night.

With Elvis Merzlikins temporarily unavailable due to personal reasons, Tarasov will start Saturday vs. the Rangers. Tarasov comes in on a three-game winning streak with a 2.32 GAA and .930 SV%. Tarasov has faced the Rangers twice this season, going 1-0-1 while stopping 58 of 61 shots (.951 SV%) and one shutout.

With Elvis Merzlikins temporarily unavailable due to personal reasons, Tarasov will start Saturday vs. the Rangers. Tarasov comes in on a three-game winning streak with a 2.32 GAA and .930 SV%. Tarasov has faced the Rangers twice this season, going 1-0-1 while stopping 58 of 61 shots (.951 SV%) and one shutout.

The Blue Jackets will turn to Tarasov between the pipes for the first time in nearly a month. Tarasov last appeared in the Blue Jackets' crease on January 31st when he saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club. The 25-year-old netminder has a 3.69 GAA and .876 SV% in 14 games this season (5-7-2). The Blue Jackets have won two straight and enter Thursday's contest as +138 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team with points in 11 of their last 12 games (9-1-2).

The Blue Jackets will turn to Tarasov between the pipes for the first time in nearly a month. Tarasov last appeared in the Blue Jackets' crease on January 31st when he saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club. The 25-year-old netminder has a 3.69 GAA and .876 SV% in 14 games this season (5-7-2). The Blue Jackets have won two straight and enter Thursday's contest as +138 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team with points in 11 of their last 12 games (9-1-2).

Tarasov will get the nod in the tail-end of Columbus' back-to-back when they travel to Utah on Friday. Tarasov hasn't appeared in a game since allowing six goals on 42 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Hurricanes on January 23rd. The 25-year-old netminder owns a 4-7-2 record and an underwhelming .871 SV% on the season. The Blue Jackets enter action in Utah on Friday at +180 on the money line.

A night after an impressive 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Blue Jackets will switch to Tarasov between the pipes. Tarasov was excellent in his most recent outing, a 26-save shutout, his first of the season, in a 1-0 shootout loss to the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old netminder has a 3.64 GAA and .872 SV% in 12 games this season (4-6-2). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as significant +320 road favorites despite playing their best hockey of the season, collecting a point in eight of their last nine games (7-1-1).

Tarasov has returned from a conditioning stint with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) and will tend the twine for the Blue Jackets on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25-year-old Tarasov played reasonably in a two-game stint in the AHL (1-1-0), posting a 2.96 GAA and .908 SV%. He has a 4.23 GAA and .857 SV% in 10 appearances with the Blue Jackets this season (3-6-1). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -103 home underdogs against a Flyers club that defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 last night.

Tarasov has only played one game in the last month so he will spend some time in the AHL to get up to speed. In addition, Tarasov has struggled mightily in limited NHL action this season, posting a 4.23 GAA and .857 SV% in 10 games (3-6-1). Before this season, Tarasov was far more stable between the pipes, posting a 3.39 GAA and .905 SV% in 45 appearances (12-24-4). Columbus has recalled Jet Greaves in a corresponding move.

Elvis Merzlikins played the last seven games for the Blue Jackets, but they will revert to Tarasov on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 25-year-old Tarasov has struggled this season, posting an ugly 4.04 GAA and .861 SV% in eight games (3-4-1). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +240 road underdogs against an Oilers club shutout 1-0 on Tuesday by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Tarasov has not played since November 16th and will not suit on Friday due to an illness. The 25-year-old Tarasov has an ugly 4.04 GAA and .861 SV% in eight games this season (3-4-1). The Blue Jackets have recalled Jet Greaves from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) on an emergency basis.

Tarasov has only played once in the previous six games for the Blue Jackets, a forgettable outing where he allowed seven goals on 22 shots (.682 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Tarasov has an ugly 4.02 GAA and .860 SV% in six games this season (3-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter Sunday's contest as +105 road underdogs against the Anaheim Ducks.