Top Blue Jackets News
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Falls to Winnipeg
Merzlikins allowed six goals on 27 shots in a 6-1 loss to the Jets on Sunday.
It was a tough night for Merzlikins as he allowed six goals, including four in the second period, en route to a third consecutive loss. The 29-year-old netminder had been on a decent run coming into Sunday's contest, going 2-2-1 with a .920 save percentage in his previous five starts, though he's still found himself splitting starting duties with Daniil Tarasov. Overall, Merzlikins is 12-15-8 this season with a .900 save percentage and 3.33 GAA. The Blue Jackets are back in action Tuesday on the road in Detroit.
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Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Not playing Sunday
Chinakhov (upper body) won't be in the lineup Sunday versus the Jets, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakhov will sit out his third consecutive contest. He has provided 16 goals and 29 points in 53 appearances this campaign. Mikael Pyyhtia has been playing during Chinakhov's absence.
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Blue Jackets' Adam Boqvist: Unavailable Sunday
Boqvist (upper body) won't play Sunday against Winnipeg, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Boqvist will miss his second straight contest. He has supplied one goal, nine assists, 45 shots on net and 42 blocked shots across 35 appearances this season. Jake Christiansen will be in the lineup again Sunday due to Boqvist's absence.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Guarding goal Sunday
Merzlikins will patrol the home crease Sunday against Winnipeg, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
Merzlikins is coming off a 35-save effort in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa. He has compiled a 12-14-8 record this season with a 3.25 GAA and a .903 save percentage over 37 games played. The Jets rank 17th in the league with 3.09 goals per contest this campaign.
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Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner: Goal, assist vs. San Jose
Jenner notched a goal and an assist in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Sharks.
Jenner opened the scoring 17:41 into the first period, sliding a backhander past Magnus Chrona off the rush before adding an assist on Johnny Gaudreau's tally in the second. The 30-year-old Jenner has two goals and three points in his last two games after going scoreless in his previous four contests. He's up to 21 goals and 32 points through 52 games this season.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Three points in win
Gaudreau tallied a goal and two assists in Saturday's 4-2 victory over San Jose.
Gaudreau set up Boone Jenner's opening tally late in the first period before extending Columbus' lead to 3-1 in the second, sliding a rebound past Magnus Chrona. Gaudreau would add a third point, matching his season-high, with a second assist on Alexander Nylander's empty-netter. The 30-year-old Gaudreau has averaged a point per game over the last two months, totaling four goals and 21 assists in his past 25 contests. He's up to 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) through 67 games this season.
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Blue Jackets' Daniil Tarasov: Stops 39 in win
Tarasov turned aside 39 of 41 shots in a 4-2 win over the Sharks on Saturday.
Tarasov's stellar play continued Saturday -- he's held opponents to three goals or fewer in each of his last eight outings, going 4-3-0 with a .942 save percentage in that span. The 24-year-old netminder has earned the starting job over Elvis Merzlikins in Columbus, as he's appeared in four of the Jackets' last five games. Overall, Tarasov improves to 7-9-2 with a .906 save percentage and a 3.16 GAA this season. Merzlikins should get the start Sunday in the second leg of a back-to-back, lining up Tarasov for a road matchup with the Red Wings on Tuesday.
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Blue Jackets' Alexander Nylander: Two more goals, assist vs. Sharks
Nylander scored a pair of goals and added an assist in Saturday's 4-2 win over San Jose.
Nylander extended the Blue Jackets' lead to 2-0 in the opening minute of the second period, beating Magnus Chrona with a wrister off the rush, before adding an assist on Johnny Gaudreau's goal later in the frame. Nylander would add a third point, matching a season high, with an empty-netter in the third. The 26-year-old winger has found his scoring touch since joining Columbus at the trade deadline, tallying eight goals and 11 points in 10 games, earning him a spot on the Jackets' top line with Gaudreau and Boone Jenner.
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Blue Jackets' Adam Boqvist: Out Saturday
Boqvist (upper body) is unavailable Saturday against San Jose, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Boqvist will miss at least one game after being injured in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa. The 23-year-old blueliner has one goal and 10 points in 35 games this season. He will be replaced in the lineup by Jake Christiansen.
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Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Not expected to play
Chinakhov (upper body) isn't available for Saturday's game versus the Sharks, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Due to Chinakhov's absence, Mikael Pyyhtia is expected to play in his second straight contest Saturday after making his NHL season debut in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa. The 23-year-old Chinakhov has 16 goals and 29 points in 53 appearances this campaign.
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Blue Jackets' Daniil Tarasov: Facing Sharks
Tarasov was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, Coby Maeir of 1st Ohio Battery reports, and is slated to get the home start versus San Jose on Saturday.
Tarasov has been spectacular since Feb. 13, going 3-3-1 with a 2.09 GAA and a .941 save percentage for a sub-par Blue Jackets team. Overall, the 24-year-old netminder is 6-9-2 with a 3.23 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 18 appearances this season. Tarasov will face a Sharks squad that ranks last in the NHL standings with 39 points through 65 games.
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Blue Jackets' Jake Christiansen: Up from minors
Christiansen was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Friday.
Christiansen has 13 goals, 40 points and 32 PIM in 54 AHL contests this season. He hasn't played at the NHL level in 2023-24, but the 24-year-old has recorded a goal and five points in 32 career outings at the top level.
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Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau: Two helpers Thursday
Gaudreau picked up two assists, one on the power play, in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Senators.
The 30-year-old winger set up Boone Jenner for the game's opening goal just 15 seconds into the first period, and Gaudreau got credit for a power-play helper in the third when his cross-ice pass attempt hit a skate in the slot and fell right to Alexander Nylander, who whacked it home. It's Gaudreau's first multi-point performance since Feb. 25, but he's been in fine form since the All-Star break, racking up three goals and 15 points over the last 16 games.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Fades late in Thursday's loss
Merzlikins turned aside 35 shots in regulation and overtime and one of three shootout attempts during Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Senators.
Looking to bounce back from an early hook Tuesday in Montreal, Merzlikins was sharp to begin the game and took a shutout into the third period. The Sens were able to tie it up before the final horn though, and the 29-year-old couldn't come up with stops on Tim Stutzle or Claude Giroux in the shootout. Merzlikins has given up more than three goals in a start only once since the All-Star break, but his 3.35 GAA and .900 save percentage over that stretch are far from ideal, especially in comparison to Daniil Tarasov's numbers (2.49 GAA, .928 save percentage in eight outings) during that same period. While Columbus still hasn't given up on Merzlikins and his contract would be tough to move in a trade over the offseason, at the moment, Tarasov appears to be the team's clear No. 1 netminder.
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Blue Jackets' Adam Boqvist: Exits Thursday's game
Boqvist sustained an upper-body injury and won't return to Thursday's game versus the Senators, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Boqvist was hurt on a hit in the first period and ruled out prior to the first intermission, which is not encouraging. The 23-year-old defenseman has already missed significant time with upper body and shoulder injuries this season and in his career. The Blue Jackets' next game is Saturday versus the Sharks, but it's safe to assume the team won't rush Boqvist back given its poor position in the standings.
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Team Statistical Rankings
GF AVG | GA AVG | Power Play | |
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Team | 2.86 | 3.54 | 14.0 |
Injuries
Player | Injury |
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P. Laine RW Patrik Laine RW | Personal |
A. Fantilli C Adam Fantilli C | Laceration |
K. Johnson C Kent Johnson C | Shoulder |
A. Boqvist D Adam Boqvist D | Upper Body |
Y. Chinakhov RW Yegor Chinakhov RW | Upper Body |
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