Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov have been alternating starts lately, and with Merzlikins battling a lower-body injury, the trend will likely continue on Monday. On Saturday, Merzlikins recorded his first win in nearly a month, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jenner did not play on Saturday due to an illness and will also miss Monday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Jenner was playing well before exiting the lineup, recording six points (3G / 3A) in his last eight games.
Detroit will be without Patrick Kane (illness) on Saturday and have a few players banged up which has led to the emergency recall of Zach Aston-Reese. The 29-year-old forward has appeared in only one game for the Red Wings this season and barely saw the ice as he only had 6:29 TOI without any counting stats.
Fedotov was a seventh-round pick of the Flyers in 2015 and finally joins them after 164 games in the KHL. Most recently, Fedotov was 21-22-1 with a 2.37 GAA and .914 SV% in 44 games with CSKA Moscow. Fedotov becomes the Flyers' new No.2 netminder and should see a couple of starts down the stretch.
The Blue Jackets have lost four straight and will turn to Merzlikins for the third time in the last five games. Merzlikins has allowed six goals in each of his last two contests (0-2-0), including a 45-save outing (.882 SV%) in his last contest, a 6-1 losing effort to the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action as +137 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes.
Werenski is battling a lower-body injury but appears to be available for Friday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Werenski has been effective offensively lately, tallying five points (1G / 4A) in his last four games.
The Blue Jackets have been outscored 10-4 in their past two games (0-1-1) and will turn to Merzlikins to tend the twine on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Merzlikins has lost three straight, including a forgettable performance in his last outing, allowing six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Blue Jackets enter action as enormous +329 road underdogs.
Werenski is battling a lower-body injury and might be unavailable for Friday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Werenski has been effective offensively lately, tallying five points (1G / 4A) in his last four games.
Fasching was a late addition to the Islanders' lineup after not taking part in line rushes during warmups. Pierre Engvall will sit in his place.
Christiansen played three games with the Blue Jackets earlier this season but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL. He has 40 points (13G / 27A) in 54 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) and could slot into the Blue Jackets lineup after being recalled due to Adam Boqvist suffering an upper-body injury.
With Yegor Chinakhov out of the lineup battling an upper-body injury, Pyyhtia will make his season debut on Thursday. Pyyhtia was the fourth-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has 27 points (7G / 20A) in 57 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
Marchenko did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, providing a sizeable boost for a team already without Sean Kuraly and Yegor Chinakhov. Marchenko has four points (1G / 3A) in his last eight games while being a healthy scratch once in that stretch.
