The Jackets were able to play spoiler tonight, as they prevented Tampa from clinching third place in the Atlantic. Merzlikins stopped all 15 shots he faced at even-strength but he allowed a pair of power play goals to Nikita Kucherov and Corey Perry. He owns a 27-22-7 record with a 3.23 goals-against-average and a .906 save percentage this season. 

Merzlikins allowed four goals on 32 shots in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Lightning. He has a 26-22-7 record this season with a 3.25 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 57 appearances. 

Merzlikins and crew had themselves a 1-1 tie after Nikita Kucherov and Oliver Bjorkstrand traded goals over the first three minutes of regulation, but the Lightning would subsequently take the lead on a Steven Stamkos goal near the end of the first period before pulling away on additional goals by Stamkos (again) and Ondrej Palat in the second and third periods, respectively. Prior to Tuesday's middling performance, Merzlikins had been playing well of late, having yielded two or fewer goals in four of his previous five starts. The Blue Jackets will finish out the regular season with contests against the Lightning (again; on Thursday) and the Penguins (Friday).

Merzlikins saved 33 of 35 shots in a win over Edmonton on Sunday. He has a 26-21-7 record, 3.24 GAA, and .907 save percentage in 56 contests this season.