It will be a second straight start for Tarasov after he got his first career win in a 30-save (.968 SV%) 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers last time out. He brings his .912 SV% and high 3.33 GAA into his fourth start of the season. The Blue Jackets draw the easier task of the 1-4-0 Arizona Coyotes who rank last in the NHL in SOG (24.0) and 28th in GF/GP (2.6).
Danforth suffered the upper-body injury in Columbus' 6-3 loss over Pittsburgh Saturday. He was not in the lineup for their 5-1 victory against the New York Rangers on Sunday. The 29-year-old was enjoying a nice start to the season as he had two goals and three points off 10 shots in six games played for the Blue Jackets.
Elvis will draw his third start of the season after stopping 32 of 35 shots in an overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday. After missing Columbus' first two games due to injury, he has struggled in his two starts going 1-0-1 with a 3.90 GAA and .867 SV%. He faces the struggling Predators who have dropped their last three contest.
Elvis Merzlikins will draw his second start of the season as the winless Columbus Blue Jackets host the Vancouver Canucks in the battle of zero-win teams. After missing the first two games of 2022-23 due to illness, Merzlikins was shelled in his return to action allowing five goals on 25 shots in a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He will hope to right the ship and get Columbus into the win column for the first time in four games.
Merzlikins will get his first start of 2022-23 after missing Columbus’ opening two matchups due to illness. The 28-year-old had his worst of his three seasons in 2021-22, posting a .907 SV% alongside his high 3.22 GAA. He will look to bounce back this season as the Blue Jackets take on St. Louis on the road Saturday.
Tarasov will man the Blue Jackets' crease for the second straight night as Elvis Merzlinkins recovers from an illness. Tarasov played well in his season debut, stopping 39 of 43 Caroline Hurricane shots on way to an eventual 4-1 loss. The 23-year-old netminder will be looking for his first career victory as he takes the crease for his fifth career start against the Lightning Friday.
Tarasov will man the Blue Jackets' crease for the second straight night as Elvis Merzlinkins recovers from an illness. Tarasov played well in his season debut, stopping 39 of 43 Caroline Hurricane shots on way to an eventual 4-1 loss. The 23-year-old netminder will be looking for his first career victory as he takes the crease for his fifth career start against the Lightning Friday.
With Elvis Merzlikins out, the Blue Jackets sent Johnson to the AHL to make room to call-up Jet Greaves to serve as the backup in Carolina.
Elvis Merzlikins is sick and will not be available for the Blue Jackets' season opener, so Greaves will serve as Danill Tarasov's backup in Carolina. Greaves was 12-12-2 with a 2.84 GAA and .905 SV% in the AHL last season.
Merzlikins will miss the Blue Jackets' season opener in Carolina with an illness. With Merzlikins out, Danill Tarasov will get the start, and Jet Greaves was recalled to be the backup.
Tarasov will surprisingly take the crease in the Blue Jackets' opener after it was announced that expected starter Elvis Merzlikins would miss Wednesday night's game due to Illness. The 23-year-old Russian netminder enjoyed a successful short stint with the Jackets' in 2021-22, getting his first taste of NHL action across a late-season four-game stint where he produced an impressive .937 SV% and 2.40 GAA. He will be looking to achieve his first career NHL win Wednesday as he leads Columbus between the pipes.
Aston-Reese was on a PTO during the preseason and turned it into a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs. Aston-Reese is a strong two-way winger, who had 15 points (5G / 10A) in 69 games last season. He'll be in the Maple Leafs' bottom-6 to begin the season.
Sawchenko, who struggled in the AHL last year, got thrust into the NHL for a period of time, going 1-2-1 with a 3.35 GAA and .901 SV%. He'll be an AHL goalie for the Hurricanes but he was 4-10-0 with a 4.03 GAA and .877 SV% in that league a year ago.
