The Blue Jackets have lost six straight, with Merzlikins on the hook for four of them, but will roll with the Latvian goalie on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has shown flashes of strong play this season but has been inconsistent, including allowing four or more goals in three of his previous four outings (0-3-1), posting an ugly .872 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's contest as +115 home underdogs against a Penguins club riding a two-game losing skid (0-1-1).

Brindley was the second-round pick, 34th overall, of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old played one game with the Blue Jackets last season, his NHL debut, after completing his campaign with the University of Michigan where he scored 53 points (25G / 28A) in 40 games.

A former third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Hunt has spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL, having just 13 NHL appearances to his name. He has no goals and two assists in six games with Iowa this season. He's appeared in just one NHL game this year, registering two shots on goal and two blocked shots in just over eight minutes of ice time.

James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Labanc to re-enter the lineup for the Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old has provided some offensive depth this season, scoring six points (1G / 5A) while averaging 11:27 time-on-ice in 10 games. Labanc had only nine points (2G / 7A) in 46 games with the San Jose Sharks last season.

Kevin Labanc will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Tuesday, sending van Riemsdyk to the press box as a healthy scratch. The veteran van Riemsdyk has four points (2G / 2A) in 12 games this season while averaging 10:58 time-on-ice.

Dante Fabbro will make his debut with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, resulting in Harris being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Harris is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice, has zero points, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games this season.

Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Fabbro to make his debut with the Blue Jackets after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Fabbro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

The Blue Jackets have lost five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Merzlikins has a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games this season (2-4-1) and has shown glimpses of consistent play, including posting a .914 SV% in his previous five outings (2-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as +144 road underdogs against a Kraken club with a 6-8-1 record.

Tarasov has only played once in the previous six games for the Blue Jackets, a forgettable outing where he allowed seven goals on 22 shots (.682 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Tarasov has an ugly 4.02 GAA and .860 SV% in six games this season (3-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter Sunday's contest as +105 road underdogs against the Anaheim Ducks.

Fabbro has spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 17th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old Fabbro was in and out of the lineup with the Predators this season, recording zero points and a -3 plus/minus in six games.

Johnson has not played since October 17th, expected to miss an extended period of time, and has been placed on Injured Reserve to open up a roster spot. The 22-year-old Johnson was showing signs of a true breakout campaign with two goals and three assists in his first four games.

James van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for the first time this season in the Blue Jacket's previous contest but will return to the lineup on Tuesday, swapping places with Aston-Reese. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese has four points (2G / 2A) in 11 games and will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Zach Aston-Reese will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing van Riemsdyk to return to the lineup after being sidelined for one game. The 35-year-old van Riemsdyk has four points (2G / 2A) in 10 games with the Blue Jackets.