Labanc will sit to make way for the return of Zach Werenski (lower-body) as the Blue Jackets are opting to dress seven defencemen. Labanc has two goals and ten assists in 34 games this season.

Werenski is battling a lower-body injury and could miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Already without Sean Monahan (wrist) and Kirill Marchenko (jaw), the Blue Jackets can ill-afford to be without the elite offensive services of Werenski, who is having a Norris trophy caliber season, with 57 points (17G / 40A) in 53 games.

The Blue Jackets have lost two straight (0-2-0) and will hope for a better result on Thursday, with Merzlikins tending the twine against the Utah Hockey Club. Merzlikins has played well lately, posting a .919 SV% in his last eight games (5-3-0). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.96 GAA and .894 SV% in 35 games this season (19-13-3). Columbus enters Thursday's contest as +140 home underdogs against a Utah team with points in three of their last four (1-1-2).

Werenski is battling a lower-body injury and could miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Already without Sean Monahan (wrist) and Kirill Marchenko (jaw), the Blue Jackets can ill-afford to be without the elite offensive services of Werenski, who is having a Norris trophy caliber season, with 57 points (17G / 40A) in 53 games.

The Blue Jackets have lost two straight (0-2-0) and will hope for a better result on Thursday, with Merzlikins tending the twine against the Utah Hockey Club. Merzlikins has played well lately, posting a .919 SV% in his last eight games (5-3-0). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.96 GAA and .894 SV% in 35 games this season (19-13-3). Columbus enters Thursday's contest as +140 home underdogs against a Utah team with points in three of their last four (1-1-2).

With the Blue Jackets dealing with some major injuries in their forward group, Gambrell was recalled earlier this week but did not crack the lineup and will return to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 28-year-old Gambrell has 233 games of NHL experience but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 20 points (9G / 11A) in 31 games this season.

The Blue Jackets' three-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing when Merzlikins allowed five goals on 39 shots (.872 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Merzlikins will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has been solid lately, posting a .915 SV% in his last nine games (7-2-0). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +152 road underdogs against a Sabres team without offensive threat Tage Thompson (upper body).

With Kirill Marchenko (jaw) sidelined, Labanc will re-enter the lineup for Columbus on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old Labanc only has two points (1G / 1A) in his last 20 games.

The Blue Jackets' three-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing when Merzlikins allowed five goals on 39 shots (.872 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Merzlikins will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has been solid lately, posting a .915 SV% in his last nine games (7-2-0). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +152 road underdogs against a Sabres team without offensive threat Tage Thompson (upper body).

With Kirill Marchenko (jaw) out indefinitely, the Blue Jackets have recalled Gambrell from the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). The 28-year-old Gambrell has 233 games of NHL experience but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 20 points (9G / 11A) in 31 games this season.

An arrant puck hit and broke Marchenko's jaw while he was sitting on the bench in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. No timeline has been provided but the average downtime after a broken jaw is typically six-to-eight weeks. The 24-year-old Marchenko was having a breakout season, scoring 55 points (21G / 34A) in 53 games.

An arrant puck hit and broke Marchenko's jaw while he was sitting on the bench in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old will be out of the lineup indefinitely, a crushing blow of the Blue Jackets' offense. Marchenko was having a breakout season, scoring 55 points (21G / 34A) in 53 games.

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.

Sillinger has not played the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 21-year-old Sillinger is averaging 17:40 time-on-ice and has 23 points (7G / 16A) in 45 games this season.

The Blue Jackets are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings when Merzlikins saved 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%). Merzlikins will return to the crease on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, looking to improve his 2.95 GAA and .894 SV% through 32 games (18-11-3). The 30-year-old netminder has been solid lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (5-1-0), posting a .925 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +252 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has lost six of their last eight (2-4-2).