Game Day #56: Merzlikins, Blue Jackets Battle Rangers In Final Game Before 4-Nations Break

It's the last game before two weeks off for the 4-Nations tournament, and it's a big one.

The Columbus Blue Jackets host the New York Rangers on Saturday night, with Columbus just one point of a wild card spot and the Rangers — with one fewer game played — just four points behind the Blue Jackets.

The divisional rivals have met just once so far this season, a 1-0 Rangers win last month in a shootout. That match-up put Daniil Tarasov against Igor Shesterkin and while Tarasov was credited with his first NHL shutout, it was the Rangers who walked away with the extra point.

This time around it's Elvis Merzlikins versus Jonathan Quick. After winning seven of eight starts, Merzlikins has now lost three starts in a row, allowing 11 total goals to the Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, and Utah Hockey club this week. Snapping that skid is pivotal for the Blue Jackets to break their three-game losing streak, the longest they've had since dropping five straight in the middle of December.

Here's what else to know as Columbus looks for a big win before the break:

• RE: BLUESHIRTS
  Quick has made just four starts in the last month, allowing 16 goals in his last three starts in January before taming the Vegas Golden Knights last week in a 4-2 Rangers victory. Quick made 34 saves in that start. ... The Rangers are on the second leg of a back-to-back; they fell 3-2 Friday night at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins. New York is 3-3-1 in such games this season. ... J.T. Miller, acquired in a blockbuster from the Vancouver Canucks a little more than a week ago, scored two goals in his first game with the Rangers and had two assists in his second. He's been quiet in the last two, though, with no points and just two total shots on goal.
   
• PROVOROV'S ASCENT
  Over the last week, Ivan Provorov has donned the "A" in place of Zach Werenski when Werenski missed Tuesday's game with an injury, he's scored the first short-handed goal of his career to help the Blue Jackets grab at least one point against Utah, and he's scored in three straight games — the longest goal-scoring streak of his career. It has been peak Provorov, and being paired with Werenski on the top defensive duo has only further elevated his game. This is the best hockey Provorov has played since joining the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2023.
   
• A BROKEN RECORD, BUT Z'S STREAK...
  ...can move to 21 games with a point tonight. He's registered at least one point in 20 straight games at home, which is now fifth all-time by a defenseman. Ahead of him: Bobby Orr, who has streaks of both 25 and 21, Paul Coffey (23 games), and Phil Housley (22 games). Werenski is also just the third American-born player in league history (regardless of position) to have a home point streak of 20+ games. Housley's 22 is the second longest, with Brett Hull scoring in 26 straight at home for the St. Louis Blues in the 1989-90 season.
   
• LINEUPS & PROJECTIONS
   Columbus appears set to go with the 11/7 mix for a second straight game. That means Kevin Labanc is a healthy scratch, and Jack Johnson rotates in as the seventh defenseman. Here are the complete lineup projections: