After not playing the last two games for the Blue Jackets, Merzlikins will return to the crease on Thursday. Merzlikins has only played three games in December but has collected a point in each, posting a 2-0-1 record and .915 SV%. The Blue Jackets are coming off a commanding 9-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday but are slight -101 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that has won two straight but played last night, a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Islanders.

Severson has missed 14 games with an oblique injury suffered on November 19th and, after being a full participant at practice on Wednesday, could return to the lineup imminently. Head Coach Pascal Vincent used "before Christmas" as a target for Severson's return, suggesting he will play either on Thursday against the Washington Capitals or Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Before his injury, Severson had three points (2G / 1A) in his last two games and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 19 games this season.

Tarasov made an unceremonious season debut on Saturday, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. After missing the first two months of the season due to a knee injury, Tarasov posted a 2.57 GAA and .915 SV% during a four-game stint with the Cleveland Monster of the AHL earlier this month. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +162 road underdogs against a Sabres team that is 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and was shut out 2-0 by the Arizona Coyotes in their last contest.

Gudbranson was suspended one game for being the aggressor in his altercation with Nick Cousins of the Florida Panthers. Gudbranson did not play on Thursday but will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Gudbranson has 10 points (2G / 8A), 23 hits, and 66 blocks while averaging 19:34 time-on-ice through 27 games this season.

Aston-Reese made his Red Wings debut earlier this week, playing 6:21 time-on-ice and registering two hits. He will return to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL where he has seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games.

Merzlikins has not played since December 5th, when he was placed on injured reserve with an illness but participated in morning skate on Thursday and will start for the Blue Jackets after being activated from IR. Before being placed on IR, Merzlikins was playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% during a 3-2-1 stretch. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +211 road underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have collected at least a point in seven straight contests (5-0-2).

Merzlikins has not played since December 5th, when he was placed on injured reserve with an illness but participated in morning skate on Thursday and will likely start for the Blue Jackets after being activated from IR. Before being placed on IR, Merzlikins was playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% during a 3-2-1 stretch. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +211 road underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have collected at least a point in seven straight contests (5-0-2).

Hunt had a goal, eight assists, nine PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 14 games with Iowa (AHL) and has been recalled to Minnesota Wednesday. The 21-year-old defensemen was Minnesota's 2020 3rd round pick and made his first NHL appearance earlier this season, appearing in five games with no points while averaging 8:36 TOI.

Aston-Reese will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Wings opt to dress seven defensemen. He played less than seven minutes in his Red Wings debut in Dallas on Monday.

Harris has not played since November 18th, missing 10 consecutive games, and will miss an additional 10-14 days as he recovers from a lower-body injury. The 23-year Harris was averaging 18:45 time-on-ice and had three points (0G / 3A) through 16 games this season.

The incident occurred in Sunday's game between the Panthers and Blue Jackets after Cousins was penalized for boarding Gudbranson earlier in the game. Gudbranson will miss Thursday's game against the Leafs as a result and will be eligible to return for Saturday's game against the Devils.

Aston-Reese and Austin Czarnik have both been recalled from Grand Rapids of the AHL for a Red Wings team that is suddenly experiencing a myriad of injuries, most notably with Dylan Larkin (upper-body) and J.T. Compher (soreness) on the injured reserve. Aston-Reese has not played with the Red Wings yet this season but has seven points (4G / 3A) in 20 games with Grand Rapids.

With Elvis Merzlikins unable to play due to an illness, Greaves was forced to play on the back end of a back-to-back on Friday and was rewarded another start on Sunday after a strong performance. In two games (1-1-), the 22-year-old Greaves saved 72 of 77 shots (.935 SV%) and posted a 2.52 GAA. He will now return to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL as Columbus has recalled Daniil Tarasov.

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.