Add another troubling habit for the Blue Jackets after a frustrating 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 20 at Nationwide Arena.
Along with struggling to finish games they’re leading and converting prime scoring chances into goals, they’re now starting games poorly to put themselves behind the proverbial eight ball. It’s a troubling recent trend, especially when the Jackets can’t overcome a poor start with better play in the second and third periods, as was the case against Ottawa.
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“If you look at the whole 60 minutes, it’s probably an evenly played game,” Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said. “Our slow start really hurt us, so that’s been addressed already … and we’ll continue to address that because I hate slow starts. I hate it.”
Bowness, who replaced Dean Evason as head coach Jan. 12, lost his first game as the Blue Jackets’ bench boss. They’d strung three straight wins together after the switch to build a four-game winning streak, but the Senators crumpled that up in front of the Jackets and torched it.
Despite overtime losses in their previous two games while dropping six of eight, the Senators (23-19-7) played with more desperation off the opening draw and imposed their will on the Jackets while taking a 2-1 lead in the opening 20 minutes. Things shifted a bit in the second and third, when the Jackets created more scoring chances, but their inability to convert any into goals in those two periods against journeyman goalie James Reimer was their undoing.
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It all stretched back to the start.
“It just sets the tone for the game when you’re able to impose your will right off the hop,” Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “You get in their faces, set the tone of the game and you make them adjust to you. That’s a big part of playing hockey is starting on time.”
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) backhands a pass around Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven (43) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Jan. 20, 2026.
That’s exactly what the Senators did, following a pattern set by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames in the Blue Jackets’ previous three games. The difference this time is the Jackets couldn’t overcome their early malaise.
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“’Xs and Os’ is structure and (strategy) and that’s one thing,” Bowness said. “Will is another one. Will is a skill. It is on its own, and we’ve shown lots of will. We haven’t in the first periods of the last two games, but we can fix that and we’ll fix it.”
Their next chance to look under the hood is during the Jackets’ second practice of the week Jan. 21 at Nationwide Arena, where forward Mason Marchment (upper body) and center Isac Lundestrom (lower body) are expected to be full participants.
Here are two more takeaways:
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) faces a shot from Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Jan. 20, 2026.
Elvis Merzlikins made his third straight start in net for the Blue Jackets but didn’t make it past the first period. After allowing two goals on seven shots in the game’s first 20 minutes, Merzlikins left due to illness and Jet Greaves made 12 saves on 13 shots in relief.
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Merzlikins and Greaves participated in the Jackets’ optional morning skate at Nationwide Arena, and Merzlikins was healthy enough to engage in casual conversation with reporters at his locker stall afterward.
Bowness said Merzlikins asked to keep the start despite informing the Jackets’ coaching staff that he wasn’t feeling great in the morning.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) skates by right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Jan. 20, 2026.
“We (knew) this morning, but he wanted to give it a go,” Bowness said. “He felt a little bit better. He’s been playing really well, so when a guy comes to you and says, ‘I want to play,’ you let him play. It didn’t work out, so we’ll keep him away from the team (Jan. 21) and we’ll worry about (the Dallas Stars on Jan. 22), but I give him credit for trying to play. He’s a fighter.”
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The Blue Jackets issued an official update on Merzlikins’ status during the second period, saying he was “questionable” to return. That sparked a question about what would’ve happened had Greaves left with injury or illness?
Would Merzlikins have returned to finish the game, or would the Blue Jackets have gone to their emergency backup goalie, Tyler Murphy, a former Miami University club hockey goalie from 2009-2012?
Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness wants aggressive hockey
Watching talented players make tentative decisions is another area that drives Bowness bonkers. Goals don’t score themselves, especially in the NHL, so players who pass up shots from dangerous spots tend to draw his ire.
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“The start killed, and more importantly, the second period, we could’ve taken the lead but didn’t score,” he said. “We had two guys wide open in the slot … trying to make a play. I don’t understand that, right? I don’t. You’re in the slot looking to make a backdoor play to your partner? Get that out of our game. Shoot the (darn) thing.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets takeaways: ‘Our slow start really hurt us’