Werenski, Korpisalo to play Game 5 vs. Maple Leafs

Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen Zach Werenski and Ryan Murray will both be in the team's lineup for the deciding Game 5 match against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, head coach John Tortorella said.

Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo will start in net after conceding the Game 4 start to teammate Elvis Merzlikins.

Tortorella told play-by-play announcer Bob McElligott that Merzlikins is hurt. It remains unclear if he will be available to back up Korpisalo on Sunday.

Werenski was injured during the third period of Game 4 on Friday and didn't return. He went for an MRI on Saturday.

The 23-year-old has been a vital piece on Columbus' blue line, logging 26:42 of ice time per game in the series and matching up against most of the Maple Leafs' stars. However, he's managed just one assist through four games after leading all defensemen in goals during the regular season.

Murray was scratched from Game 4 due to an injury after appearing in the first three games of the series. He's averaged 17 minutes of ice time per contest while slotting in on the team's third defensive pairing.

Korpisalo was pulled in favor of Merzlikins in the middle of Game 3 with the Blue Jackets trailing 3-0. Merzlikins then helped steer Columbus to an improbable comeback victory.

Toronto pulled off a historic comeback against Merzlikins in Game 4. The Latvian netminder surrendered three goals in the final four minutes and conceded the overtime winner. Still, Merzlikins stopped 49 of the 53 shots he faced.

Game 5 is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

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