By Canadian Press

Merzlikins stops 41 shots to lead Blue Jackets in 4-2 win over Senators

Dec 1, 2023 | 7:14 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Elvis Merzlikins stopped 41 shots and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied from two goals down to beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Friday night.

Patrik Laine, Dmitri Voronkov, Adam Fantilli and Boone Jenner scored for Columbus, which earned its second win in three games for the Metropolitan Division cellar dwellars. Johnny Gaudreau and Zach Werenski added two assists apiece.

Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist, and Claude Giroux scored for Ottawa, which lost its third straight to remain last in the Atlantic Division. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 19 shots for the Senators in his first game against the team where he spent the first 7 1/2 seasons of his career.

After outshooting Columbus 14-2 to start the game, the Senators got on the board at 8:43 of the first period, with Giroux sliding the puck through Merzlikins’ pads in his 100th game with Ottawa.

Tkachuk made it 2-0 just over two minutes later with a power-play goal off a laser from the right circle. Tim Stützle had the secondary assist for his 200th career point.

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The power-play goal was the first given up by Columbus in 12 chances over its last six games.

The rest of the game belonged to Columbus.

The Blue Jackets dominated the back half of the first period, as Laine cut the lead in half with his own power-play goal with 5:0,7 left rushing in from the right circle.

Voronkov tied it 43 seconds later with his fifth goal of the season.

Fantilli gave Columbus the lead at 5:15 of the second, redirecting Ivan Provorov’s shot from along the left boards.

Jenner made it 4-2 with a power-play goal that tipped in Werenski’s shot from the blue line.

UP NEXT

Senators: Host Seattle on Saturday.

Blue Jackets: At Boston on Sunday.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Nicole Kraft, The Associated Press