Game Preview: Blue Jackets Seek Season-High Win Streak, Begin Five-Game Homestand Tuesday Night Versus Ottawa

The Columbus Blue Jackets begin a season-long, five-game homestand Tuesday night when they face the Ottawa Senators at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets, winners of four straight and a perfect 3-0 in the Rick Bowness era, are also seeking a season-high fifth straight victory as they continue to get back into the playoff race.

Ottawa and Columbus have split their season series thus far: the Senators won 6-3 in Columbus on December 11th; the Blue Jackets returned the favor with a 4-1 win in Ottawa on December 29th.

Here are five things to know before the 7:00 p.m. puck-drop:

• Ottawa has had a hard time keeping the puck out of the net all season, but particularly as of late. They've allowed 14 goals in their last three games and rank 29th in the league in goals against per game (3.40). ... Despite giving up a lot of goals, the Sens are also scoring a lot as of late. They have 18 goals in their last eight games, including an eight-goal outburst last week against the New York Rangers. They're also 5-for-9 on the power play during that stretch. ... James Reimer, signed by the Senators last week, will make his second straight with the team. He debuted Sunday, allowing four goals on 34 shots in an overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. 
   
• Zach Werenski will look to continue his absurd home-ice point streak, which currently sits at 16 games. That's the second longest by a defenseman dating back to the 1992-93, trailing only...Werenski's 2024-25 streak of 22 straight. For more on the Werenski heater, check out this link.
   
• Elvis Merzlikins tied a season-high with his third consecutive start in this game. He's been one of the Three Stars of the Game in his last two, making a total of 59 saves on 63 shots (.937 save percentage) in those games. Bowness seems to be a fan of Merzlikins, and Merzlikins seems to be a fan of Bowness. When Elvis gets hot, he's proven he can be one of the best goaltenders in the league — can he continue his solid play in this one?
   
• The team knows how important this stretch of play is. “Guys, great game, (we) feel awesome, and (now we have to) work in the future,” Marchenko said following Saturday's win the Steel City. “Now it’s important games. Ottawa, Dallas, Tampa, great teams wait (for) us at home." 
   
• Danton Heinen swapped spots with Dmitri Voronkov in Saturday's overtime win and things will stay that way in this game. Dante Fabbro left early in that game with a lower-body injury and remains out of the lineup. Damon Severson steps up to play alongside Zach Werenski on the top pairing, and Jake Christiansen steps into the lineup. Here are the complete projections: