The Columbus Blue Jackets are finally getting a look at something that’s been elusive all season: a healthy roster. As they prepare to host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night in a nationally televised matchup, they’ll do so with nearly a full complement of players. Only defenseman Brendan Smith remains on injured reserve, and for a team that’s battled inconsistency and injuries throughout the year, that’s a welcome change.
Mateychuk and Wood Return, Roster Crunch Follows
The big news heading into the game is the return of defenseman Denton Mateychuk and forward Miles Wood. Their presence marks the first time this season the Blue Jackets will have all of Mathieu Olivier, Erik Gudbranson, Mason Marchment, Mateychuk, and Wood available in the same game. That’s a notable blend of grit, physicality, and skill-exactly the kind of lineup balance Columbus has been trying to find.
With players getting healthy, roster decisions had to follow. To make room, the Blue Jackets placed Zach Aston-Reese and Brendan Gaunce on waivers for AHL assignment.
Both cleared on Wednesday. And with defenseman Dante Fabbro nearing a return as well, lineup decisions are going to become a daily puzzle-albeit a good problem to have.
Mateychuk, who missed six games with an upper-body injury suffered during the team’s trip to Utah, is eager to get back in the mix.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s been a hard couple of weeks to get back and I hadn’t really missed that much time before.
It’s tough watching. I’m excited to get back in there and go and battle with these guys.”
The original expectation was that Mateychuk’s absence would be brief, but the recovery took a bit longer than anticipated. Still, he’s returning ahead of schedule and feeling good about where he’s at. He’s expected to slot in on the right side alongside Ivan Provorov-a pairing that could offer some two-way stability on the back end.
As for Wood, he’s coming off a four-week absence and admitted he caught a break with his injury.
“When I first went into the board, they thought it was my Achilles, which was a wild sensation,” Wood said. “But thank God it wasn’t that.”
Now healthy, he’s expected to jump back into the fourth line alongside Dmitri Voronkov and Isac Lundestrom. That trio could bring some energy and physicality in the bottom six-something the Blue Jackets have leaned on in tough matchups.
Zamula Set to Face Former Team
Wednesday night also brings a personal storyline for defenseman Egor Zamula, who will face his former team for the first time. Zamula spent his entire professional career with the Flyers’ organization before being traded to Pittsburgh and ultimately signing with Columbus as a free agent after his contract was terminated.
“A little bit different,” Zamula said of the matchup. “But at the same time, first game against them in my life, so it’s going to be fun and I’m waiting for 7:30.”
Zamula’s journey with the Flyers spanned from the AHL to the NHL, and he’s got plenty of memories with former teammates-on and off the ice.
“I grew up with these guys from AHL to NHL,” he said. “I have a lot of good stories and a lot of great dinners together with these teammates and friends. So I’m pretty happy to see them today.”
Through eight games with the Blue Jackets, Zamula has just one assist, but he’s settling into his role and embracing the opportunity in Columbus.
“I love the city and this organization,” he said. “Great leadership group.
Great old guys and a lot of young guys as well. So it’s pretty easy… I know I can play better.
But at the same time, I have great partners who help me a lot. So I’m pretty happy about my game right now.”
Zamula has some built-in chemistry with a couple of his new teammates, too. He played alongside Kirill Marchenko at the U-18 level and shared a locker room with Provorov during their time in Philadelphia. That familiarity has helped ease his transition to a new team and city.
Spotlight on the Net: Rust vs. Rust
In goal, both teams are turning to netminders who are shaking off some rust. Elvis Merzlikins is back between the pipes for Columbus, making his first start since leaving a game against Ottawa due to illness.
On the other side, Dan Vladar returns for Philadelphia after being activated from injured reserve. It’ll be his first start in several weeks.
That sets the stage for a potentially unpredictable goaltending duel-one where sharpness could take a period or two to show up. For the Blue Jackets, the hope is that Merzlikins can quickly find his rhythm and give the team a solid foundation in net.
National TV Spotlight Returns
This game also marks Columbus’ return to TNT, and the last time they were on the national stage wasn’t exactly a highlight reel. The Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of a 9-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres-a game most fans would rather forget, especially with Tage Thompson torching them for five goals, including four in the first period alone.
The puck drop was pushed back to 7:30 to accommodate national broadcast scheduling, as the Rangers-Islanders game was originally slated for the slot. Now, the Blue Jackets have a chance to rewrite the narrative under the bright lights.
Final Word
With key players returning and the roster nearing full strength, the Blue Jackets are entering a pivotal stretch. This lineup has the ingredients to be competitive-now it’s about execution, chemistry, and finding consistency. Wednesday night offers a chance to take a step in that direction, and with the Flyers in town, there’s no shortage of motivation.