Columbus Blue Jackets' defenseman Zach Werenski sustained a lower-body injury, leading to his absence from practice and placement on Injured Reserve. The team expects Werenski to be out 'week to week'. Meanwhile, goalie Elvis Merzlikins left a game due to illness, with Spencer Martin replacing him. Jack Roslovic returned from an ankle fracture, and the team faced the Toronto Maple Leafs.
#CBJ Elvis Merzlikins left after the first period due to illness. Spencer Martin now in the net.
UPDATE: #CBJ goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (illness) is questionable to return to tonight's game.
BTW, Elvis Merzlikins is not on the #CBJ bench since being replaced by Spencer Martin at the start of the second, so one has to assume it's an injury/illness scenario.
Goalie change for #CBJ. Spencer Martin enters the game to start the second period. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 12-of-14 shots faced in his 20 minutes of action.
Merzlikins with a breakaway stop on Domi after quite a #CBJ turnover right to the former Jacket. CBJ started fine but it's been all Leafs since the goal.
#CBJ lines tonight. Roslovic starts on the fourth line, as he hasn’t skated a ton the past few days with the holiday break. https://t.co/PpZTlIokBj
According to #CBJ coach Pascal Vincent, Zach Werenski will be further examined tonight while the Jackets play the Leafs. After that, the team hopes to have a better idea of how long he might be out of action. Right now, it’s just “week-to-week.”
TRANSACTIONS: #CBJ have placed defenseman Zach Werenski (ankle injury; week-to-week) on Injured Reserve and activated center Jack Roslovic off Injured Reserve. https://t.co/GTlDxvNHO0
#CBJ vs #LeafsForever tonight: Merzlikins (CBJ) vs Samsonov (TOR) F Jack Roslovic returns from an ankle fracture tonight for the Jackets; D Mark Giordano returns for the Leafs from a broken finger. Season series: CBJ (1-1-0); TOR (1-0-1) https://t.co/Q6C30bVsPr
Merzlikins starts tonight vs #LeafsForever and Martin backs up. Roslovic returns to the lineup on the fourth line RW with Texier and Gaunce. Olivier comes out. Roslovic will also have a PK role with Jenner and Kuraly out.
Merzlikins starts tonight vs #LeafsForever and Tarasov backs up. Roslovic returns to the lineup on the fourth line RW with Texier and Gaunce. Olivier comes out. Roslovic will also have a PK role with Jenner and Kuraly out.
Elvis Merzlikins will start tonight against #LeafsForever, #CBJ HC Pascal Vincent said.
The Athletic: #CBJ expect top defenseman Zach Werenski to be out of lineup “week to week” with lower-body injury. Another bad break for Werenski, but could it mean a bigger role for rookie David Jiricek? https://t.co/ZomffDfYXv
Hoping for the best for Zach. Hope it’s not too long and he can be back sooner than later #CBJ https://t.co/PK3jKfCS0D
Roslovic is practicing today. Kuraly (abdominal injury) and Werenski (lower body) are not. #CBJ
#CBJ practice begins with just the six healthy D on the ice. No Werenski, as expected.
#CBJ head coach Pascal Vincent said Zach Werenski will meet with team doctors tomorrow after his injury tonight. So no further update tonight.