It’s been a while since the Blue Jackets have gotten good news with injuries, but they received some after their morning skate Dec. 4 at Nationwide Arena.
After missing four games with a lower-body injury, star forward Kirill Marchenko will return to the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings. Marchenko, 25, is second on the team with 22 points in 22 games on eight goals and 14 assists, second only to defenseman Zach Werenski’s 9-17-26 in 26 games.
Marchenko is expected to return to his spot at right wing on the top forward line with center Adam Fantilli and left wing Dmitri Voronkov, who’ve skated with Kent Johnson during his absence.
“He’s a good pro,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “He competes his butt off, so to have another proven NHL guy in our lineup is great.”
Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner, who also skated during the Jackets’ optional morning workout, will miss his 11th straight game with an upper-body injury. After returning for one full practice Nov. 30, Jenner missed a Dec. 3 practice at Nationwide Arena.
In other lineup news, goalie Elvis Merzlikins will start consecutive games for the first time this season, center Sean Monahan will play after an undisclosed injury caused him to exit in the third period Dec. 1 against the New Jersey Devils and rookie center Luca Del Bel Belluz will play against the Red Wings after being recalled Dec. 2 from AHL Cleveland.
Luca Pinelli, who made his NHL debut while playing the past three games, returned to Cleveland to continue his AHL rookie season.
The Blue Jackets’ second of three games against the Red Wings won’t be televised by FanDuel Sports Network. It will be streamed exclusively by Hulu/ESPN+ in the Jackets’ second national broadcast appearance of the season.
John Buccigross will handle the play-by-play and AJ Mleczko will provide analysis. Former NHL referee Dave Jackson will act as rules analyst, while the studio broadcast will feature Steve Levy, Arda Ocal and former Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella.
Fans can listen to the broadcast on radio on The Fan 97.1 FM with Bob McElligott on play-by-play and Dylan Tyrer as studio host.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social