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Columbus Blue Jackets News
Fasching is expected to be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Arizona.

Fasching will get the short end of the straw on Thursday, being healthy scratched to allow Matt Martin to draw back into the lineup for the Islanders. Fasching has played 15 straight games for the Islanders, finding ways to add sporadic offensive contribution through limited minutes (12:01 ATOI), scoring four points (1G / 3A).

Hudson Fasching
Isac Lunderstrom (achilles) is expected to make his season debut Wednesday vs. Toronto.

Lundestrom will make his season debut on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, on schedule with his six-month recovery period after receiving off-season Achilles surgery. Lundstrom had four goals, 10 assists, 60 SOG, two PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 61 games in 2022-23.

Isac Lundestrom
The Golden Knights have recalled Dysin Mayo from Henderson (AHL).

Mayo had three goals, five assists, 18 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 30 games to start the season with Henderson (AHL) but has earned his first call-up of the season Monday to Vegas. The 27-year-old appeared in 15 games with Arizona in 2022-23 but failed to pick up a point while collecting eight PIMs in a lowly 11:41 TOI/GP.

Dysin Mayo
Zach Werenski (ankle) has been placed on the Injured Reserve and is week-to-week.

Werenski suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's contest against the New Jersey Devils and exited the game after playing only 11:15 time-on-ice. Werenski has struggled to stay healthy the last several seasons and has been placed on IR. He is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. He has been a solid contributor for the Blue Jackets on the blueline this season, scoring 19 points, all assists, in his last 23 games. Ivan Provorov assumed the top powerplay role after Werenski exited the game on Wednesday.

Zach Werenski
Elvis Merzlikins will start Friday vs. Toronto.

Merzlikins will return to the crease for the Blue Jackets on Friday after a disappointing loss in his last outing. Against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, Merzlikins allowed two goals in the final five minutes of regulation in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss. The Latvian netminder is winless in his last two games (0-0-2), allowing seven total goals and posting a .896 SV%. Merzlikins was between the pipes just over two weeks ago in a 6-5 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs when he allowed five goals on 48 shots (.896 SV%), but the Blue Jackets are still sizeable +181 home underdogs against them on Friday.

Elvis Merzlikins