Game Day #40: Merzlikins Starts Against Blues On Saturday Night As Blue Jackets Look To Rebound From Thursday's Tough Loss

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost in about the worst way imaginable Thursday, their first game of the 2025 calendar year. 

Jonatan Berggren scored the game-winning goal with 35.7 seconds left in regulation to give Detroit a 5-4 win, but it was the how that was particular painful: Columbus had tied the game just a couple of minutes earlier and then received a chance on the power play after a failed Red Wings challenge. 

As the power play concluded, Ivan Provorov's shot was blocked and a split second later, was on Berggren's stick for a breakaway immediately after he excited the penalty box.

Onward and upward, though.

"When you lose like that it stings," said head coach Dean Evason. "There’s nothing we can do about it now except learn from that mistake, don’t let it happen again, and let’s move forward."

The chance to move forward comes Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues, the last of three straight at home for the Blue Jackets.

Elvis Merzlikins gets the start after being in net for the tough loss Thursday. He made a couple of fantastic saves in the third period to help keep the game within reach — but also allowed a couple of low-danger shots to get past him. 

Here's what else to know when St. Louis comes to Columbus in a meeting of old Central Division, Western Conference foes:

• RE: BLUES
  Joel Hofer gets the start for St. Louis, one night after Jordan Binnington's shutout over the Ottawa Senators. Hofer has statistically been the better of the two this season, though in about half the number of games. He's 8-3-1 in 12 starts, has a goals against average of 2.75, and is saving shots at a .905 clip. ... The Blues are outside of the top ten in all major categories (goals, goals against, power play, penalty kill). They've been about as pedestrian as it gets, though are two games above .500.
   
• ANOTHER GOOD CHANCE FOR THE PP
  In the last four games that the Blues have been on the penalty kill more than once, they've allowed a power play goal — including three straight where they've allowed two goals. Columbus' power play has been buzzing lately, so this is another good chance against an inferior power play.
   
• Z'S STREAK
  Zach Werenski's 14-game home point streak is tied for the longest by a defenseman in the 21st century. A point against the Blues, of course, would give him the longest streak of the century — but would also move him into the top five in that category over the last 40 years. Paul Coffey has the record for the longest home point streak by a defenseman over the last four decades, at 23 straight games.
   
• LINEUPS & PROJECTIONS
  No official announcements have been made as of early Saturday afternoon, but it appears that the streak of 11 forwards and seven defensemen will end with Kevin Labanc drawing in for a defenseman. Damon Severson and Jack Johnson are the leading candidates, and Severson in particular has struggled as of late. Here are the complete projections: