Game Day #77: Blue Jackets Return To Nationwide To Complete Home-And-Home With Senators

Less than one percent.

Those are the Columbus Blue Jackets odds entering Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators, the second time in three nights the clubs will meet.

The Senators defeated the Blue Jackets 4-0 in Ottawa on Sunday, handing Columbus their third straight loss and second straight shutout loss.

Combined with the Montreal Canadiens' five-game winning streak, the Blue Jackets now find themselves eight points behind the last wild card spot with just six games left on the schedule.

And while they aren't mathematically eliminated, that could change tonight: a Canadiens win of any sort and a Blue Jackets regulation loss would officially take the Blue Jackets out of the playoff race.

That doesn't take into consideration the New York teams. Both the Islanders and Rangers are now ahead of the Blue Jackets in the standings, though by a much more attainable margin of one and two points, respectively.

Head coach Dean Evason says the team just needs to stay positive.

"We have to have the belief that if we can get on a roll and get on a run here that we’ll be in a good spot at the end of the year," said Evason.

Here's what else to know before the Blue Jackets and Senators conclude their home-and-home set:

• RE: SENS
  Ottawa will clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win tonight, but can also move into a tie for third in the Atlantic Division with the Florida Panthers. ... Anton Forsberg gets the start tonight after Ullmark had a shutout against the Blue Jackets on Sunday. Forsberg also had a shutout in his last game, a 40-save dandy against the Panthers on Saturday. 
   
• NO MIDDLE GROUND
  Columbus has been shut out six times since March 6 and has not scored since leading the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in the second period in Thursday's eventual 7-3 loss. That's 14 consecutive goals allowed by the Blue Jackets over three games. 
  
  But mixed in that 4-11-1 stretch are three games in which Columbus scored 7 or more goals. This is team that can be either red hot in scoring, or tip-of-Antartica cold. There hasn't been much middle ground down the stretch.
   
• ELVIS STARTS
  Elvis Merzlikins starts in net. He labored a lot this weekend, getting the start Saturday and then coming in for Daniil Tarasov on Sunday just a few minutes into the game. This could be a key stretch for the goalie in determining his future and whether or not it's in Columbus. For all the talk about Merzlikins improving over a dreadful 2023-24 campaign, it's worth nothing that his save percentage is lower this season (.891) than it was last season (.897), as is his quality start rate (45.1% this season, 47.5% last season). This is a team that is ready to go to the next level, but can they get there with Elvis? It's a question they'll need to address soon.
   
• LINEUPS CHANGES & PROJECTIONS:
  There are several changes to the Blue Jackets lineup. Boone Jenner moves up to the top line, which puts Kent Johnson back with Adam Fantilli on the second line. They'll be partnered with James van Riemsdyk. Zach Aston-Reese is back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Sunday and will take the place of Yegor Chinakhov, who will sit. Defensively, Jake Christiansen comes into the lineup for Jack Johnson and will skate with Erik Gudbranson on the third pair. Here are the projected lines: