Purely a goalie play as we fade recently signed veteran journeyman James Reimer of the Sens. He allowed four in his season debut last time out in Detroit. Counterpart Elvis Merzlikins has won back-to-back starts. The Blue Jackets have won four in a row, with three of them coming under new coach Rick Bowness. Columbus has allowed just two 5-on-5 goals since Bowness took over. The Blue Jackets are 8-2-2 in the last 12 matchups in Nationwide Arena.

The "Bowness Bounce" continues in Columbus with the Blue Jackets now 3-0 for new HC Rick Bowness, and the team win streak actually at four after the 4-3 shootout win over the Penguins at Pittsburgh on Saturday. The offense has perked up for Bowness, while GK Elvis Merzlikins, recently back to active duty, has been in goal for the last two Columbus wins, stopping 59 of 63 shots vs. the Canucks and Pens. Meanwhile the Sens are leaking goals in back-to-back losses, have lost four of their last five away, and GK Linus Ullmark returns to active duty tonight for the first time since December 27. Play Blue Jackets on Money Line