Greaves' reassignment to the AHL indicates that Elvis Merzlikins is likely ready to return from an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old Greaves played well in two games for the Blue Jackets earlier this season but has spent the majority of his time with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), posting a solid 2.88 GAA and .910 SV% in 37 contests (25-9-3).
Pascal Vincent and the Blue Jackets coaching staff have opted to go with an 11-forward, seven defenseman formation on Tuesday with Marchenko out of the lineup. Marchenko tallied an assist and one shot on goal in Monday's 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
On the back end of a back-to-back, with Elvis Merzlikins battling an upper-body injury, the recently recalled Greaves will start between the pipes on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 22-year-old Greaves played well in two games for the Blue Jackets earlier this season but has spent the majority of his time with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), posting a solid 2.88 GAA and .910 SV% in 37 contests (25-9-3).
Monahan joins Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton, and Gabriel Vilardi as game-time decisions ahead of the matchup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. All four of them played in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars with Monahan being held off the scoresheet for only the second time in the last six games.
McCue was the fifth-round pick (156 overall) of the San Jose Sharks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old McCue has 50 points (24G / 26A) in 52 games with the London Knights of the OHL.
Johnson has struggled offensively this season, highlighted by a 12-game stretch with only one point (0G / 1A) while averaging over 13 minutes of ice time. He will be out of the lineup indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
Merzlikins was terrific against the New York Rangers on Sunday, saving 38 of 40 shots (.950 SV%) in a 4-2 victory, and will return to the crease in a rematch on Wednesday night. The Latvian netminder has a 3-2-0 record and a .920 SV% in his last five starts (3-2-0) while allowing three or fewer goals in all but one contest. That said, Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets are significant +211 road underdogs heading into action on Wednesday night.
Emil Bemstrom will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Olivier to re-enter the lineup. Over his last four games, Olivier has recorded zero points but is averaging four hits per contest.
Merzlikins will tend the twine for the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, his third start in their last four games. The Latvian netminder has won two of his last three outings (2-1-0) and saved 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) on Saturday in a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. That said, the Blue Jackets are sizeable +215 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Chinakhov missed the Blue Jackets' previous game due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Saturday as they take on San Jose. The 23-year-old third-year player is in the midst of a breakout campaign, with 14 goals, 10 assists, 82 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 40 games before his injury.
