Gaunce scored the game-winning goal and added two assists in AHL Cleveland's 4-3 overtime win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday.

Gaunce has four goals and four assists over eight outings with the Monsters since he was demoted from theBlue Jackets in late January. The veteran forward has 14 points in 19 appearances at the AHL level and another six points in 25 games at the NHL level. Should the Blue Jackets need forward depth after the Olympic break, Gaunce would likely be near the top of the list for a call-up.

Whitelaw scored a goal and added two assists in Western Michigan University's 7-2 win over Arizona State University on Saturday.

Whitelaw is hovering just under a point-per-game pace this season, with 17 goals and 12 assists in just 30 outings. This is the best of his three campaigns in the NCAA, and he's emerged as a key part of WMU's offense. TheBlue Jackets prospect may need to repeat the effort as a senior in 2026-27 if he doesn't sign an entry-level deal after the Broncos' season ends.

Smith scored twice in Penn State's 5-4 shootout loss to the University of Michigan on Friday.

Smith has been an excellent goal-scorer from the blue line with 10 goals and 19 points over 25 appearances this season. That's impressive work, though he had just 11 goals with 43 assists in 68 regular-season games for WHL Tri-City last year, which suggests a bit of good luck in 2025-26. Smith, aBlue Jackets prospect, is likely to need more years in the NCAA to round out his development.

Merzlikins stopped 33 of 38 shots on goal in Latvia's 5-1 loss to the United States in Olympic round-robin play Thursday.

Merzlikins had the odds stacked against him in Thursday's contest and played well to not allow the game-winning goal before the 30-minute mark. His early effort Thursday reflected where he left off with Columbus before the Olympic break, as he had a 3-0-0 record, a 1.67 GAA, a .933 save percentage and a shutout across his last three starts. He'll likely receive one more start during Olympic round-robin play and should get a game of rest if Latvia turns to Penguins netminder Arturs Silovs to change things up.

Merzlikins will defend the Latvian crease against the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, according to Jeff Svoboda of theBlue Jackets' official site.

Merzlikins won his last three starts in a Columbus uniform prior to the Olympic break, turning aside 70 of 75 shots. He is 11-8-1 with a 3.48 GAA and an .888 save percentage over 21 contests this season. Merzlikins has a tough matchup against the mighty American team, which includes Blue Jackets teammate Zach Werenski.

Heinen scored a goal on three shots, logged two PIM and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Heinen had gone four games without a point and was scratched three times in that span. He's emerged as a versatile part of theBlue Jackets' lineup while earning three points over 13 games since he was dealt from the Penguins. The forward has a total of five points, 28 shots on net, 37 hits, 16 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 26 outings this season.

Provorov scored a goal and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Provorov ended his 18-game goal drought with a first-period tally. The 29-year-old defenseman earned five assists with a plus-9 rating, 38 shots on net and 31 blocked shots in that span. He's up to a total of six goals, 20 points, 111 shots, 94 blocks, 26 PIM, 23 hits and a plus-15 rating over 56 appearances. Provorov's steady defense keeps him in a top-four role, giving him appeal in deeper fantasy formats.

Monahan scored an empty-net goal on four shots and added two PIM in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Monahan has four goals and an assist over his last eight games, giving him a little momentum that he'll try to pick up after the Olympic break. The center is at 10 goals, 27 points, 87 shots on net and a plus-2 rating through 52 appearances this season. He should continue to see top-six minutes and power-play time after the break.

Werenski scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Chicago.

Werenski saw his centering attempt early in the first period pinball off Louis Crevier's stick, Alex Vlasic's skate and past Spencer Knight to give Columbus a 1-0 lead, and it proved to be all the support Jet Greaves would need. The goal was also Werenski's 20th of the season, making him the first defenseman in history with 20 goals prior to an Olympic break, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. He's also the third American defenseman ever with consecutive 20-goal campaigns, joining Reed Larson and Hall of Famer Phil Housley. Werenski will now take his talents to Milan with Team USA while riding a seven-game point streak in which he's racked up two goals and 10 points.

Coyle picked up two assists in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Chicago.

The veteran center had a hand in tallies by Zach Werenski in the first period and Danton Heinen in the second. Coyle will be sorry to see the NHL shut down for the Olympic break -- over the last six games, he's erupted for five goals and 12 points, and on the season he's now on pace to top the career-high 60 points (25 goals, 35 assists) he recorded for the Bruins in 2023-24.

Greaves made 21 saves in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Chicago.

One night after Elvis Merzlikins recorded a shutout, Greaves answered back with his own. It was Greaves' second clean sheet of the season and the fourth of his career, and he heads into the Olympic break having won six straight decisions dating back to Jan. 11, a stretch in which he's posted a 2.10 GAA and .924 save percentage.

Marchenko (illness) won't play versus the Blackhawks on Wednesday, Jeff Svoboda of theBlue Jackets' official site reports.

Marchenko will miss his second straight game, but he was expected to skate Wednesday. Danton Heinen will stay in the lineup to face the Blackhawks, while Marchenko will presumably be fine by the time the Blue Jackets' schedule resumes Feb. 26 versus the Bruins.

Marchenko (illness) is slated to be a game-time decision Wednesday against Chicago, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.

Marchenko missed Tuesday's 3-0 win over New Jersey. He has 19 goals and 46 points in 50 outings in 2025-26. If Marchenko can return to the lineup against the Blackhawks, Danton Heinen could be a healthy scratch, and Isac Lundestrom will probably return to the fourth line.

Greaves will defend the home crease against the Blackhawks on Wednesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Greaves has picked up wins in five of his last six outings, going 5-0-0 with a 2.47 GAA and .914 save percentage during that time. He'll have a favorable matchup against the Blackhawks, who are scoring 2.70 goals per game this year, which is the seventh-worst mark in the NHL.

Fabbro scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's 3-0 victory over the Devils.

Making his return from a six-game absence due to a lower-body injury, Fabbro opened the scoring early in the third period by snapping a quick shot through traffic in front of Jacob Markstrom. Fabbro isn't known for his offensive production. Through 49 games this season, he has produced four goals, eight points, 83 blocked shots, 51 shots on net, 42 hits and a minus-12 rating.

Olivier scored two goals in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Devils.

All the offense came in the third period, as Olivier added a couple of insurance tallies after Dante Fabbro had broken the ice. Olivier has lit the lamp four times in the last four contests to snap a 10-game point drought. The physical winger is showing that last season's offensive breakout was no fluke, collecting eight goals, 17 points, 155 hits, 62 PIM, 54 shots on net, 30 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating through 42 games this campaign.

Merzlikins turned aside all 24 shots he faced in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Devils.

It was the first shutout of the season for the 31-year-old netminder, and the 12th of his career. Merzlikins has won three straight starts and five of his last six, posting a sharp 2.03 GAA and .924 save percentage over that latter stretch. He has been making a push to wrest the starting job away from Jet Greaves.