Coyle's status for Monday's tilt against the St. Louis Blue is up in the air as he is battling an illness. After a tremendous run with 24 points (8G / 16A) in 19 games, Coyle has fallen off significantly, with only seven points (3G / 4A) in his last 15.
Merzlikins has not played the last four games but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite his recent inactivity, Merzlikins has been solid lately, allowing only two goals in each of his last three outings (2-1-0), including saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in his last outing, a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Fabbro was set to become a RFA at the end of this season but will remain with Nashville as he signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension on Friday. The 25-year-old is having a solid fifth season with the Predators, with two goals, 12 points, 58 SOG, 22 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 51 games played.
Pascal Vincent and the Blue Jackets coaching staff opted to go with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation on Tuesday, but Marchenko will draw back into the lineup on Thursday in favour of Jake Bean. Marchenko tallied an assist and one shot on goal in his last outing, Monday's 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
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.
Fasching has been out of the lineup since before the All-Star break and was been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL) for conditioning last week. The depth right-winger has struggled offensively with the Islanders this season, with three goals, eight points, 30 SOG and a -8 plus/minus in 35 games played.
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.
