Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason was optimistic that Olivier will be able to play on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. He suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Olivier has 11 points (8G / 3A) in 28 games this season.
Marrelli was a third-round pick, 86th overall, of the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Toronto native is in his fourth OHL season with the Oshawa Generals, including scoring 40 points (14G / 26A) in 30 games this season.
Between Daniil Tarasov and Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets have allowed five or more goals in three of their last four games (1-3-0). As such, the Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves between the pipes for his first NHL game of the season. The 23-year-old Greaves has played 10 career NHL games (7-3-0), posting a 3.44 GAA and .912 SV%. He has a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
Chinakhov has not played since November 27th, missing seven games due to an upper-body injury, and has retroactively been placed on Injured Reserve. Before his injury, the 23-year-old Chinakhov was averaging a career-high 17:01 time-on-ice, scoring 14 points (7G / 7A) in 21 games.
Greaves' call-up could be an indication that Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov are battling injuries but nothing has been announced yet. The 23-year-old Greaves served as a backup with Columbus earlier this season but has predominantly been in the AHL, recording a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).
Merzlikins was stellar in his previous outing, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, and will return to the crease for a third consecutive game on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.95 GAA and .893 SV% in 18 games this season (18-9-2). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Flyers club riding a three-game losing skid.
Merzlikins was stellar in his previous outing, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, and will return to the crease for a third consecutive game on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.95 GAA and .893 SV% in 18 games this season (18-9-2). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Flyers club riding a three-game losing skid.
Pyyhtia will be the odd-man out on Friday as James van Riemsdyk draws back into the Blue Jackets lineup. Pyyhtia has just one goal and one assist in 18 games this season.
Merzlikins will make his 17th start of the season when the Blue Jackets travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Friday. Merzlikins took the loss his last time out, allowing two goals on 21 shots in a 3-0 defeat in Calgary on Tuesday. The 30-year-old netminder owns an 8-6-2 record to go along with an .894 SV% and 3.00 GAA on the season. Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets enter action in Vancouver on Friday at +185 on the money line.
James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pyyhtia to re-enter the lineup for the first time since November 16th. The 22-year-old Pyyhtia is averaging 13:57 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in 17 games.
The Blue Jackets have on five of their last six and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes for the seventh consecutive game. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 3.07 GAA and .894 SV% in 15 appearances this season (8-5-2). The Blue Jackets enter Tuesday's contest as +111 road underdogs against a Calgary Flames club on a four-game losing skid (0-3-1).
