Columbus Blue Jackets News

Chinakhov missed the Blue Jackets' previous game due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Saturday as they take on San Jose. The 23-year-old third-year player is in the midst of a breakout campaign, with 14 goals, 10 assists, 82 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 40 games before his injury.

Chinakhov played only 8:40 time-on-ice before exiting Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury. He will not play on Tuesday but could return on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. The 23-year-old Chinakhov is enjoying his best season, scoring 24 points (14G / 10A) in 40 games thus far.

Monahan will center a second line for the Jets with Cole Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers and is expected to be on the top powerplay unit as well. The 29-year-old centre had 13 goals and 22 assists (35 points) in 49 games with the Montreal Canadiens before being traded to Winnipeg last week.

The Canadiens will receive a 2027 third-round pick if the Winnipeg Jets win the Stanley Cup. Monahan has a $1.985M cap-hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2023-24. The 29-year-old centre had 13 goals and 22 assists (35 points) in 49 games with Montreal prior to the trade. He should settle in as the Jets' No.2 centre.

Fantilli was limited to only 7:30 time-on-ice on Monday before exiting the game with a calf laceration. The 19-year-old rookie will miss approximately eight weeks, a devastating blow for a Blue Jackets team that has struggled all season. In 49 games this season, Fantilli had 27 points (12G / 15A), 115 shots, and 46 hits, one of the few bright spots on the Blue Jackets' season.

Columbus will continue to swap their goalies game by game as Merzlikins takes the crease for the second time in three games Tuesday in St. Louis. The 29-year-old made it public knowledge earlier in the season that he would like to be traded but has remained with Columbus and carries a 8-10-7 record, 3.35 GAA and .901 SV%. He takes on the red-hot St. Louis Blues, who have surprisingly won four straight games by the score of 4-3 and are currently on a five game winning streak.

Olivier has been a healthy scratch for the last seven games but will replace Emil Bemstrom in the bottom-6 on Tuesday. Olivier has just five points (1G / 4A) in 22 games this season but has delivered 53 hits (2.4 per game).

The Blue Jackets have confirmed that Fantilli suffered a cut to his left leg from a skate blade Sunday and will not play Tuesday vs. St. Louis. He is expected to head back to Columbus for further evaluation. The 19-year-old was the 2023 third overall pick and has been excelling in his first NHL season with Columbus, picking up 12 goals, 27 points, 115 SOG, 16 PIMs and -21 plus/minus.

Fantilli was caught in a walking boot Sunday after the Blue Jackets' game after leaving early in the game after just 7:30 TOI and is not questionable to play Tuesday vs. St. Louis. The 19-year-old was the 2023 third overall pick and has been excelling in his first NHL season with Columbus, picking up 12 goals, 27 points, 115 SOG, 16 PIMs and -21 plus/minus.

Werenski has been out of the lineup since December 27th, missing 10 straight games, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. 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 before his injury. Expect Werenski to regain his position as the quarterback on the Blue Jackets' top powerplay unit. David Jiricek was reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL in a corresponding move.

Werenski has been out of the lineup since December 27th, missing 10 straight games, but is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. 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 before his injury. Expect Werenski to regain his position as the quarterback on the Blue Jackets' top powerplay unit.

After serving as the backup for six straight games, Merzlikins will start for the third straight time on Tuesday evening. Merzlikins allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, his first regulation loss since the beginning of December. Before that, Merzlikins was sporting a respectable .905 SV% in his last seven appearances (3-0-3). That said, Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets are overwhelming +298 road underdogs against a scorching Edmonton Oilers club searching for their 14th straight victory.

Tyson Barrie will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Fabbro to re-enter the Predators' lineup. Before being a healthy scratch on Saturday, Fabbro played 11 straight games, tallying two points (0G / 2A).

Hunt returns to the press box Friday as Minnesota's defensive carousel continues with Alex Goligoski drawing back into the lineup. The 21-year-old Hunt is in his first NHL season and has yet to score but has a goal, seven SOG, and a -1 plus/minus in 12 games played.

After not playing for six straight games, a strong outing in the Blue Jackets last contest on Tuesday has prompted them to turn to Merzlikins again on Friday. The Latvian netminder saved 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, his first win since December 14th. Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets are +134 home underdogs against a struggling and injury-depleted New Jersey Devils squad that has lost two straight, being outscored 6-2.