The Columbus Blue Jackets are heating up, and the numbers back it up. Riding a four-game win streak and sitting at 3-0 under new head coach Rick Bowness, the Jackets are showing the kind of energy and cohesion that often follows a midseason coaching change-but rarely with this much clarity.
Let’s start in net, because that’s where the most noticeable shift has taken place. Since Bowness took over, the goaltending tandem has tightened up, and Elvis Merzlikins is leading the charge.
After Jet Greaves secured a 5-3 win over Calgary last Tuesday, Merzlikins has stepped in and seized the moment. He’s backstopped the Jackets to two straight wins-a 4-1 decision over Vancouver and a gutsy 4-3 shootout win over Pittsburgh.
And based on Monday’s practice, he’s in line for a third straight start Tuesday night when Columbus hosts Ottawa.
For Bowness, the early returns on Merzlikins are more than just encouraging-they’re energizing. “Obviously, he’s been great,” Bowness said Monday.
“I love his compete in there.” That competitiveness was on full display in Saturday’s overtime thriller against the Penguins, where Merzlikins stood tall during a 6-2 shot disparity in the extra frame.
And it wasn’t just any shooter testing him-it was Evgeni Malkin, one of the most dangerous players in the league, getting multiple clean looks in tight. “We looked at that video today,” Bowness said.
“I don’t think it’s part of a good game plan when Malkin’s all alone in front of the net in overtime… He had three chances. The wrong guy now.
Put somebody else there, you’re not as worried. Put Malkin there, say ‘Well, that shouldn’t happen.’”
Still, Merzlikins didn’t blink. “He saved us a point right there,” Bowness added.
“We hate giving up a point in a divisional game. But man, that guy battles in the net.
I love him. He just competes.
He’s been outstanding.”
And then there was the moment that had everyone talking-Merzlikins, mid-overtime, taking a sip of water while the puck was still live. It wasn’t a lapse; it was a calculated moment of calm.
With Zach Werenski controlling the puck behind the net and the breakout forming, Merzlikins felt confident enough to hydrate. “I trust my teammates,” he said.
“I saw (Werenski) with the puck going to the back of the net. I knew there is gonna be a breakout.
Yes, I was really thirsty. But I just felt confident.”
It’s the kind of moment that tells you everything about where Merzlikins is mentally-locked in, trusting his team, and playing with poise. GM Don Waddell flagged the clip for Bowness, and both had a laugh.
“I’ve been around the league 50 years,” Bowness said. “I’ve never seen that… That’s trust.”
Waddell had identified goaltending as a key area for improvement in the second half of the season, and so far, Bowness has found a way to unlock Merzlikins’ best. It’s a fresh start, and Merzlikins is making the most of it. As long as he keeps playing like this, the net is his.
Not Everyone Gets the Same Bump
While Merzlikins is thriving under the new regime, not every player has seen the same immediate boost. Dmitri Voronkov is one of the guys still trying to find his footing under Bowness.
After logging 13:22 of ice time Thursday against Vancouver, Voronkov saw his minutes drop to just 8:57 in Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, including only two shifts in the third period. On Monday, he was skating on the fourth line with Brendan Gaunce and Zach Aston-Reese. Danton Heinen, meanwhile, moved up to the third line alongside Charlie Coyle and Mathieu Olivier.
Bowness addressed the situation directly. “The other night, he had some good reads defensively,” he said of Voronkov.
“We’d like to see a little bit more offense from him. I put Danton up there because Danton has not only scored, but he was also creating a little bit more.”
To his credit, Bowness has been transparent with Voronkov. “I talked to him this morning.
Very clear with what we need from him,” the coach said. “He’s going to be on the power play, but I’d like a little more offense from him.
But he’s a big guy. He’s a big powerful guy that works, right?
So tweak the game a little bit here and there and hopefully he can get on track offensively.”
Voronkov will remain on the second power play unit despite the demotion to the fourth line. What’s worth watching now is whether he can make an impact in limited minutes-and whether that earns him a path back up the lineup.
Injury Updates on the Blue Line
The Jackets are also navigating some bumps on the back end. Defenseman Dante Fabbro left Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh with a lower-body injury after getting tangled up with Sidney Crosby.
He was seen flexing his leg on the bench before exiting. The early prognosis?
Not as bad as initially feared.
“He’s hobbling around the locker room,” Bowness said. “I don’t think it’s as bad as we originally feared, but he’ll be out a week or so.”
Meanwhile, Denton Mateychuk didn’t practice Monday but was present in the locker room afterward, suggesting he’s doing some off-ice work. He’s considered day-to-day and won’t suit up Tuesday against Ottawa. His return will depend on when he rejoins full team practices, but the expectation is that it won’t be long.
With those absences, Monday’s defensive pairings looked like this: Werenski-Severson, Provorov-Gudbranson, and Zamula-Christiansen.
Roster Moves and Forward Depth
Elsewhere in the lineup, Mikael Pyyhtia has been sent down to the Cleveland Monsters, while Isac Lundestrom practiced with the main group. He didn’t take part in line rushes, so he’s likely still a few practices away from a return.
With Pyyhtia’s demotion, the Blue Jackets are now carrying 22 players. Whether they roll with 12 forwards or call someone up for insurance during this five-game homestand remains to be seen.
Mason Marchment continues to skate on his own but isn’t expected to return this week. With the Olympic break approaching, the team may opt to give him the extra time to fully recover.
Final Thought
This version of the Blue Jackets feels different. The energy is up, the goaltending is stabilizing, and the team is responding to Bowness’ message.
Merzlikins is playing like the guy Columbus hoped he could be, and the trust he’s showing-both in himself and in his teammates-is translating into wins. There’s still work to be done, especially with young players like Voronkov needing to take the next step, but for now, the Blue Jackets are trending in the right direction.