Columbus @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2019 ) Anaheim 2, Columbus 1

The Columbus Blue Jackets have secured at least a point in 13 of their last 14 games (9-1-4) and will look to continue their winning ways Tuesday when they visit the Anaheim Ducks. The Blue Jackets had an ideal start to their four-game road trip Monday with a 4-2 victory over the Kings, which extended their road point streak to eight games (5-0-3).

The Blue Jackets were concerned when it was announced starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo would miss 4-to-6 weeks after surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but Elvis Merzlikins - who had a 0-5-3 record at the time of the injury - has won three of his four starts since taking over starting duties and has Columbus sitting one point out of a playoff spot. “I have less pressure on my shoulders,” Merzlikins told reporters following Monday’s victory. “We are fighting here for every single point. Every guy is giving their best where they can.” The Ducks rank 26th in the NHL in shots per game (29.6) but peppered a season-high 47 into Nashville goalie Juuse Saros on Sunday - including a 21-4 advantage in the opening period, leading to a 5-4 shootout victory that snapped their three-game losing streak. “I think it was another one of those things where we’re shooting the puck first, ask questions later,” Anaheim center Adam Henrique told reporters. “It was good, certainly good to get on the score sheet and a good night for us.”

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, Prime Ticket

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (20-15-8): Defenseman Zach Werenski has 10 goals and 10 assists in his last 20 games and sits second on the team with 13 goals. The depth players on the Blue Jackets came through Monday as forward Nathan Gerbe scored his second of the campaign while defenseman Scott Harrington scored his first of the season and sixth in 167 career games. Merzlikins made 35 saves Monday and is sporting a 1.76 goals against average and .945 save percentage in his last four starts but 23-year-old Latvian Matiss Kivlenieks is expected to make his NHL debut Tuesday on the second night of a back-to-back.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (17-20-5): Henrique notched his first three-point effort of the season against the Predators and sits second on the squad with 14 goals - one behind Jakob Silfverberg for the team lead. Captain Ryan Getzlaf had gone without a point in eight straight games before recording three assists Sunday and the 15-year-veteran later netted the winning goal in the shootout. Goaltender John Gibson leads the league with 16 losses while his 2.95 goals-against-average and .906 save percentage represent the worst marks of his career.

OVERTIME

1. The Ducks have two regulation victories in their last 17 games but are 6-9-2 during that span thanks to four shootout victories.

2. Columbus' John Tortorella was behind the bench for his 1300th NHL game on Monday - the 13th coach (fourth active) to achieve the feat.

3. Ducks D Cam Fowler scored his ninth goal of the season Sunday - two shy of his career high set in 2016-17.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 5, Ducks 3