Game Day #64: Blue Jackets Wrap Up Road Trip With Merzlikins Between The Pipes In Pivotal Matchup Against Devils

The Columbus Blue Jackets got their most important win of the season Sunday night, a 7-3 defeat of the New York Rangers to break a tie between the two teams in the Metro division.

They have a chance to get their new most important win of the season Tuesday night when they face the New Jersey Devils to complete a four-game road trip.

The Blue Jackets enter the divisional battle just four points behind the Devils with two fewer games played. A regulation win could put them within two and would put them on pace to finish with a higher point total than New Jersey.

That would give them third in the Metro division and an automatic berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Columbus believes they can get their by simply playing their style of game.

“We played the way that the Columbus Blue Jackets play," said head coach Dean Evason, referring to Sunday's win against New York. "When we do that, we’re not going to win every single time, but we’re going to give ourselves a chance."

Elvis Merzlikins gets the start in net. He's lost his last two starts since an outstanding performance to kick off March in the Stadium Series, but neither start — particularly a 33 save on 35 shot performance against the Florida Panthers on Thursday — could be classified as bad. 

Here's what else to know as Columbus takes the ice in Newark, New Jersey: 

• RE: DEVILS
  The Devils are top five in many major categories (goals against, power play, penalty kill, and shots against) but several of their catalysts for that — including Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton — are out. Hughes for the season, Hamilton for "an extended period of time." They've been outscored 6-3 on special teams over the last six games, in which they've gone 2-4-0. ... In addition to Hughes and Hamilton being out, Jonas Siegenthaler is also done for the season. He was another big-minute defender for the Devils. ... Jacob Markstrom will oppose Elvis in net. He missed six weeks with an injury, returning March 2nd. Since then, he's 0-3-0 and has allowed an average of four goals per game. 
   
• MO' FANTILLI
  What more can be said about Adam Fantilli? Mo had his second hat trick of the season in the win Sunday, becoming the youngest player in club history with two hat tricks in a season. He's one of five 20-goal scorers on the team and has flourished in a top-line role since Sean Monahan's wrist injury in January. Fantilli is quickly establishing himself as a two-way, top-six center in the NHL.
   
• TWO TO GET BACK ON TRACK: 5 & 59
  A lot of Blue Jackets are playing well right now. Two who have struggled a bit as of late: Denton Mateychuk and Yegor Chinakhov. 
  
  Mateychuk has picked up four minor penalties over his last two games and is a -3 plus/minus in the last three games. Those numbers only tell a part of the story, sure, but there's no doubt he's having a first-year slump right now. His minutes over the last three games have been down as well, with Mateychuk seeing between 15 and 16 minutes in each of those three games. In only one other game this season has Mateychuk not surpassed 16 minutes. He should be fine, but a sound defensive game Tuesday could be a big confidence booster for the young blueliner.
  
  Chinakhov, meanwhile, is just three games back from an injury and has averaged just 12:04 of ice time in those three games, down more than four minutes from his pre-injury average. Back injuries are nothing to play with, so the cause for concern is still relatively low — but seeing him get back on track soon would mean the Blue Jackets get another scoring threat back into the fold; an important thing to have in a tight playoff race.
   
• LINEUPS CHANGES & PROJECTIONS
  Lineup changes are rare after a big win, and the expectation is that Tuesday's lineup — with the exception of Merzlikins back in net — will look identical to Sunday's. 
  
  Here are the complete lineup projections: