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Columbus Blue Jackets News
Merzlikins will start vs. Tampa Bay on Thursday.

The Blue Jackets have had an up-and-down season, mirrored by the play of Merzlikins, who will return to the crease on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1) and has been extra impressive lately, winning two straight and posting a .942 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Thursday as +146 home underdogs against a Lightning club riding a three-game winning streak.

Elvis Merzlikins
Johnson (shoulder) has been activated from IR and is expected to return on Thursday.

Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.

Kent Johnson
Johnson (upper-body) is expected to return on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.

Johnson has not played since October 17th due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Johnson showed signs of a true breakout campaign before his injury, with two goals and three assists in his first four games. The Blue Jackets loaned Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) to accommodate Johnson's return.

Kent Johnson
Fedotov will start vs. Carolina on Wednesday.

After a rough start to the season, Fedotov has been excellent lately and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Fedotov has a 3.64 GAA and .871 SV% in six games (3-3-0) but is riding a three-game winning streak, posting a solid .918 SV%. That said, the Flyers enter the action on Wednesday as +194 home underdogs against a Hurricanes club that defeated them 6-4 two weeks ago.

Ivan Fedotov
Merzlikins will start in Boston on Monday.

Merzlikins helped the Blue Jackets snap a six-game losing skid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they returned to the losing column in the following game. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has a 2.92 GAA and .898 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action as +165 road underdogs against the Boston Bruins.

Elvis Merzlikins
Wood (upper-body) will return vs. Washington on Friday.

Wood has not played since October 28th but, after being activated from Injured Reserve, will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. Wood joins Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) as players making long-awaited returns to the lineup.

Miles Wood
Merzlikins will start vs. Pittsburgh on Friday.

The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Elvis Merzlikins
Merzlikins is in the starter's crease at Columbus' morning skate.

The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Elvis Merzlikins
Wood (upper-body) has been activated from IR.

Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup after being activated from Injured Reserve. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body), also activated from IR, could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.

Miles Wood
Fedotov will start in Ottawa on Thursday.

Fedotov has seen limited action this season but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old Fedotov has an ugly 4.05 GAA and .851 SV% in four games this season (1-3-0) but was excellent in his previous outing, his first win of the season, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flyers enter the action on Thursday as +156 road underdogs against a Senators club coming off a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ivan Fedotov
Fedotov is expected to start in Ottawa on Thursday.

Fedotov has seen limited action this season but could return to the crease on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old Fedotov has an ugly 4.05 GAA and .851 SV% in four games this season (1-3-0) but was excellent in his previous outing, his first win of the season, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flyers enter the action on Thursday as +156 road underdogs against a Senators club coming off a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ivan Fedotov
Wood (upper-body) will not return on Wednesday but is a possibility on Friday vs. Washington.

Wood has not played since October 28th but appears to be nearing an imminent return the the lineup. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. He and Jonathan Drouin (upper body) could both be options to return to the lineup on Friday.

Miles Wood
Fabbro will make his Blue Jackets' debut on Tuesday in Seattle.

Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fabbro to make his debut with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Fabbro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Dante Fabbro
Merzlikins will start on Tuesday in Seattle.

The Blue Jackets have lost five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Merzlikins has a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games this season (2-4-1) and has shown glimpses of consistent play, including posting a .914 SV% in his previous five outings (2-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as +144 road underdogs against a Kraken club with a 6-8-1 record.

Elvis Merzlikins
The Blue Jackets have claimed Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Predators.

Fabbro has spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old Fabbro was in and out of the lineup with the Predators this season, recording zero points and a -3 plus/minus in six games.

Dante Fabbro
Johnson (upper body) has been moved to Injured Reserve.

Johnson has not played since October 17th, expected to miss an extended period of time, and has been placed on Injured Reserve to open up a roster spot. The 22-year-old Johnson was showing signs of a true breakout campaign with two goals and three assists in his first four games.

Kent Johnson