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Columbus Blue Jackets News
Daniil Tarasov has been recalled from a conditioning assignment from Cleveland (AHL) Monday.

Jet Greaves has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, allowing Columbus to recall Tarasov after a conditioning stint in the AHL. Tarasov posted a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% in four games (2-1-0) with Cleveland and will likely serve as the backup to Spencer Martin until Elvis Merzlikins (illness) is ready to return to the lineup.

Daniil Tarasov
Jet Greaves will start Friday vs. St. Louis.

Greaves has yet to appear in an NHL game this season but had a respectable 9-3-0 record, 3.09 GAA and .899 SV% with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) prior to his call up and will take on St. Louis Friday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has only appeared in one other NHL game, picking up the loss while posting a .939 SV% and a 3.05 GAA. He will hope to pick up his first career win Friday as the Blue Jackets host the Blues, who have lost four of their last seven games and are 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.88).

Jet Greaves
Erik Gudbranson (illness) will be out Thursday vs. the Islanders.

Andrew Peeke will fill in for Gudbranson again as he will miss his second consecutive game. Gudbranson has played 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus.

Erik Gudbranson
Jet Greaves has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL).

With the sudden news of Elvis Merzlikins (illness) being placed on the IR, Jet Greaves has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL) for the first time this season on an emergency basis Wednesday. The 22-year-old undrafted goaltender has put up a great record (9-3-0) despite his struggles this season as he has an .899 SV% and 3.09 GAA with Cleveland to start the year. He has appeared in one NHL game previously in his career.

Jet Greaves
Cole Sillinger (upper body) is week-to-week and was placed on the Injured Reserve.

Sillinger has been playing some of his best hockey of late but is considered week-to-week after he was placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday with an upper-body injury. The 20-year-old is in his third NHL season and has a goal, eight assists, 42 SOG, 15 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 24 games so far this season.

Cole Sillinger
Elvis Merzlikins (illness) has been placed on the Injured Reserve and will be out at least a week.

Merzlikins was surprisingly placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday as he battles illness and is expected to be out for at least a week. The 29-year-old has been solid despite the team in front of him struggling this season as he is 6-8-4 with a .910 SV% and a 3.10 GAA. Jet Greaves has been recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland (AHL) to replace Merzlikins.

Elvis Merzlikins
Gudbranson (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups and is not expected to play against the Kings on Tuesday.

Andrew Peeke will draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets in place of Gudbranson.Gudbranson has played all 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus through 26 games.

Erik Gudbranson
Merzlikins will start against the Kings on Tuesday.

Merzlikins will return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Elvis Merzlikins
Erik Gudbranson (illness) missed the morning skate Tuesday and is a game-time decision.

If Gudbranson is unable to play on Tuesday, expect Andrew Peeke to draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets. Gudbranson has played all 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus through 26 games.

Erik Gudbranson
Elvis Merzlikins was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate.

Merzlikins will likely return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Elvis Merzlikins
Merzlikins will start against the Senators on Friday.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Elvis Merzlikins
Kent Johnson will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup Friday vs. Ottawa.

An undisclosed injury to Cole Sillinger has resulted in Johnson drawing back into the Blue Jackets lineup. Johnson struggled to find his footing with the Blue Jackets this season after an impressive 2022-23 rookie campaign that saw him score 40 points (16G / 24A) in 79 games. Johnson was reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters earlier this season, dominating with 15 points (5G / 10A) in 10 games. He will hope to make an impact immediately as he is expected to skate on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner.

Kent Johnson
Mathieu Olivier will draw back into the Blue Jackets' lineup Friday vs. Ottawa.

Olivier will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup along with Kent Johnson as Cole Sillinger is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, and Eric Robinson will be a healthy scratch. In 12 games this season, Olivier has three points (0G / 3A), 12 penalty minutes, and 30 hits, averaging 9:48 time-on-ice.

Mathieu Olivier
Elvis Merzlikins was the first goalie off the ice at Columbus' morning skate.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will likely start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Elvis Merzlikins