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 Daniil Tarasov (illness) unable to play, Columbus will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes on the tail end of their back-to-back. Merzlikins was excellent yesterday, saving 27 of 28 shots in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. The 30-year-old Latvian goalie has a 3.00 GAA and .897 SV% in 45 games this season (22-18-5). The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as slight -102 road underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders.
The Blue Jackets have lost four straight (0-4-0) and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday as they desperately try to stay in contention for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 30-year-old Merzlikins allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 44 games this season (22-18-4). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +165 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team amid a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).
Monahan has not played since suffering a wrist injury in early January but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Monahan was producing at a point-per-game pace before his injury for only the second time in his career, with 41 points (14G / 27A) in 41 games.
Gardner was the 60th-overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old goalie has a 2.83 GAA and .911 SV% in 41 games with the Saskatoon Blades (WHL) this season.
Greaves was between the pipes for the Blue Jackets last night, saving 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but will return to the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6).
Graves played five games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season (2-1-2), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV%, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6). He will tend the twine on Monday in a matchup where the Blue Jackets are +120 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils squad that has won three of their previous four games (3-1-0).
Graves played five games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season (2-1-2), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV%, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6). He will likely tend the twine on Monday in a matchup where the Blue Jackets are +120 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils squad that has won three of their previous four games (3-1-0).
Fischer played 9:39 TOI and was a minus-1 in his Blue Jackets debut on Thursday. He'll come back out of the lineup with Yegor Chinakhov replacing him vs. the Rangers.
Chinakhov was a healthy scratch on Thursday but he will re-enter the lineup for Christian Fischer on Saturday. Chinakhov has failed to record a point in four games since returning from injury on March 4th.
Johnson has been out of the lineup for the last nine games, but he will replace Jake Christansen in the lineup on Saturday. Johnson has just five assists in 34 games this season.
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.
Graves played five games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season (2-1-2), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV%, but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Greaves has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in 34 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season (16-10-6).
Gudbranson only played three games this season before suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery in October. The 33-year-old is in his 14th NHL season, his third with Columbus, and is slated to make his return to the lineup next week.
Christiansen was limited to only 5:27 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.
Christiansen was limited to only 5:27 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old Christiansen is averaging 12:43 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 65 games this season.
The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four (1-3-0) and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 30-year-old Merzlikins struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV% in 43 games this season (22-17-4). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +150 home underdogs against a Golden Knights team amid a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).
