The Columbus Blue Jackets made history by hosting their first outdoor NHL game at Ohio Stadium, drawing a massive crowd of 94,751 fans. In a thrilling contest against the Detroit Red Wings, the Blue Jackets emerged victorious with a score of 5-3. Justin Danforth's game-winning goal, alongside 44 saves from Elvis Merzlikins, highlighted the matchup.

Despite being outshot 46 to 21, Columbus showcased resilience, capitalizing on key opportunities. Boone Jenner’s feed to Denton Mateychuk opened the scoring early, and after a brief tie, Columbus rallied back with goals from Dmitri Voronkov and Danforth. The Red Wings, led by Alex DeBrincat, made a late push to tie the game, but Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets held firm, securing a critical win in the playoff race.

The waiver wire continues to offer intriguing options for fantasy hockey players. With players like Elias Lindholm of the Boston Bruins enjoying a resurgence, now back on the top power-play unit, he's racking up 2.29 fantasy points per game over his last seven. Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets made an impact in his season debut, while Pierre-Luc Dubois is steadily improving his stats with the Washington Capitals, making him a must-roster candidate.

Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche is on the verge of returning, which could bolster the Avalanche's struggling offense. Meanwhile, Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a key player on a potent power-play unit, is widely available and should be picked up quickly. Lastly, Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers is showing promise, contributing significantly to his line's performance. These players could play a pivotal role in your fantasy team's success this season.

Boone Jenner, captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is set to make his season debut after a four-month recovery from shoulder surgery. His return coincides with the upcoming Stadium Series outdoor game against Detroit on March 1. Alongside him, Kirill Marchenko has also been activated from injured reserve following his recovery from jaw surgery. However, the team faces setbacks with Kevin Labanc and Owen Sillinger both sidelined for the season due to injuries. Despite a challenging season and injury woes, Columbus remains in playoff contention, sitting just one point out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 26 games to play.

Injury updates continue to roll in from the NHL, highlighting key players from various teams. Calgary Flames defenseman Jake Bean made a swift return to the ice after needing assistance off it earlier this week. Meanwhile, Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin participated in line rushes but separated from the team during drills.

The Columbus Blue Jackets received promising news with Kirill Marchenko's potential return this Saturday, alongside Boone Jenner, who is inching closer to his season debut after shoulder surgery. The Blue Jackets also await the return of Sean Monahan and Yegor Chinakhov, while Dante Fabbro and Erik Gudbranson's statuses are improving.

In other news, Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk faced an undisclosed injury and missed significant ice time recently. The New Jersey Devils' Nico Hischier is also on the mend, with a possible return on the horizon. Notably, the New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin is expected back this weekend, offering a boost amid ongoing injuries across the league.

The Columbus Blue Jackets face a challenging road ahead in their playoff pursuit, having lost leading scorer Kirill Marchenko indefinitely due to jaw surgery. The injury occurred when he was struck by a puck while on the bench during a recent game against Dallas. Following this setback, Marchenko joins fellow forwards Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan on the injured reserve list.

Despite these injuries, the Blue Jackets have shown resilience, boasting a 5-2 record in their last seven games. They currently hold the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot and are gearing up for a crucial game against the Buffalo Sabres. The team aims to capitalize on their recent performance before entering a two-week hiatus for the 4 Nations tournament.