:watermark(https://f.pmo.ee//logos/4132/d583334e07b643b158b745b655f05032.png,-2p,-2p,0,18,none):format(webp)/nginx/o/2026/01/21/17397702t1h2cc6.jpg "Merzlikin: Rare Start, Early Exit for Blue Jackets Goalie | VIDEO")
The Blue Jackets lost to the Ottawa Senators 1-4 (1-2, 0-0, 0-2) at home, suffering their first defeat under the leadership of new head coach Rick Bowness.
Merzlikin played for the third time in a row in the main team. Before that, he had played just one match out of the previous 11 games. This time, the Latvian managed five out of seven opponents’ shots in the first period, saving 71.4% of the shots.
In the second period, Jett Greaves entered the goal for the Blue Jackets, who in the continuation of the match saved 12 of 13 opponents’ shots, or 92.3% of shots.
Tyler Kleven, Tim Shticle, Ridley Greig and Brady Tkaczak scored for the “Senators”, who at the end of the match sent the puck into the empty net of the home team.
Sean Monaghan scored the only accurate shot in the “Blue Jackets” ranks.
The “Blue Jackets” are in 15th place in the Eastern Conference tournament table with 51 points in 49 games and will play their next game on Friday night Latvian time, when they will host the Dallas “Stars” hockey players.
