The Blue Jackets have had an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 season, showcasing a 2-3-0 record, and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. Merzlikins has been adequate when called upon, posting a 3.54 GAA and .920 SV%. He has been splitting time in the Blue Jackets' crease with Jet Greaves and will likely continue to do so until one of them pulls away with momentum. The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +168 road underdogs against a Stars team amid a two-game losing skid.

Greaves stopped 25 of 27 shots in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Devils. Despite a strong start to the season (2.06 GAA, .932 SV%), he’s still searching for his first win (0-2-0). He’s expected to face a Lightning team playing the second half of a back-to-back, with Jonas Johansson likely starting on the other side. Columbus enters as -117 home favourites.

Greaves stopped 25 of 27 shots in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Devils. Despite a strong start to the season (2.06 GAA, .932 SV%), he’s still searching for his first win (0-2-0). He’s expected to face a Lightning team playing the second half of a back-to-back, with Jonas Johansson likely starting on the other side. Columbus enters as -117 home favourites.

The Blue Jackets have alternated goalies through the first three games of the regular season and will continue that trend in game four on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, awarding Merzlikins his second start of 2025-26. The 31-year-old Merzlikins played well in his only contest this season, despite allowing four goals, saving a whopping 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +139 home underdogs against an Avalanche team that has outscored its opponents 13-8 through four games this season (3-0-1).

The Blue Jackets have alternated goalies through the first three games of the regular season and will continue that trend in game four on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, awarding Merzlikins his second start of 2025-26. The 31-year-old Merzlikins played well in his only contest this season, despite allowing four goals, saving a whopping 48 of 52 shots (.923 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as +139 home underdogs against an Avalanche team that has outscored its opponents 13-8 through four games this season (3-0-1).

With Miles Wood (upper body) out of the lineup for at least a week, Chinakhov will draw in and make his season debut on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old Chinakhov scored 15 points (7G / 8A) in 30 games last season. The talented forward had a season-opening stint with 14 points (7G / 7A) in his first 21 games last season, but has lacked consistent production.

In Monday's game against the New Jersey Devils, an errant stick of defenseman Dougie Hamilton cut Wood's face. Wood left for repairs after only 1:17 time-on-ice and did not return. The 30-year-old Wood has one goal through three games this season.

An errant stick of New Jersey Devils' defenseman Dougie Hamilton cut Wood's face. Wood left for repairs after only 1:17 time-on-ice and did not return. The 30-year-old Wood has one goal through three games this season.

With Erik Gudbranson (upper body) sidelined indefinitely, Christiansen will draw into the Blue Jackets' lineup for his season debut on Monday against the New Jersey Devils. The 26-year-old Christiansen benefited from a Gudbranson injury last season, playing a career-high 68 games and scoring eight points (1G / 7A).

Gudbranson exited Saturday's game with an upper-body injury, did not practice on Sunday, and will be sidelined indefinitely, starting with Monday's contest against the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old Gudbranson is in his 15th NHL season, his fourth with the Blue Jackets, and was set to be a lineup-regular this season after being limited to only 16 games in 2024-25 because of a shoulder injury.

The Blue Jackets have alternated goalies in their first two games of the season, a trend that will continue in game three on Monday against the New Jersey Devils, with Greaves tending the twine. Greaves was solid in his only outing this season, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 2-1 losing effort to the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old netminder was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.91 GAA and .938 SV% in 11 appearances (7-2-2), and has an opportunity to play his way into a starting role with the Blue Jackets. Columbus enters Monday's contest as +113 home underdogs against New Jersey.

Jet Greaves was between the pipes for the Blue Jackets' 2-1 opening night loss to the Nashville Predators, but the team will turn to Merzlikins for their second game on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota had an impressive showing in its first game of the season, defeating the St. Louis Blues 5-0. The 31-year-old Merzlikins has struggled over the past few seasons, including posting a 3.18 GAA and .892 SV% in 53 games (26-21-5) in 2024-25, and now faces the pressure of Greaves looming in his shadow in 2025-26.

After several poor seasons by Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves in their season-opening matchup on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Greaves joined the Blue Jackets late in the 2024-25 season and was nearly unbeatable, posting a 1.91 GAA and .938 SV% in 11 games (7-2-2), ultimately falling just short of a playoff berth. If Greaves can establish himself early, he could quickly become the undisputed starting goalie in Columbus. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's action as +102 road underdogs against the Predators.

Despite being absent from practice on Tuesday due to personal matters, Marchenko will suit up for the season-opening contest on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old Marchenko had a breakout 2024-25 campaign, posting 74 points (31G / 43A) in 79 contests. He is expected to start the 2025-26 season on a line with Sean Monahan and Dmitri Voronkov.

Mateychuk is expected to miss at least the first week of training camp with a groin injury, but the Blue Jackets haven't provided a firm timeline on when they expect him to begin practicing. With Mateychuk banged up, Brenden Smith, who is in camp on a PTO, was getting a look alongside Erik Gudbranson on Thursday.

After two forgettable seasons in Philadelphia, Ivan Fedotov will head to Columbus to occupy their third goaltender role after the Blue Jackets traded a 2026 6th-round pick for the goalie on Sunday. The 28-year-old towering netminder (6'7") struggled in his second season in Philadelphia, posting an ugly 3.15 GAA, .880 SV% alongside his 6-13-4 record.

After three semi-successful seasons on Long Island, Hudson Fasching has signed with Columbus on a one-year, two-way contract to provide some offensive depth for the Blue Jackets. The 30-year-old winger struggled with the Islanders in 2024-25, putting up just two goals and four points in 43 games played. He is expected to battle for a bottom-six role in Columbus and will hope to return to the 19-point form we witnessed across 49 games in 2022-23.