The Columbus Blue Jackets have lost four games in a row and the team looks a bit discombobulated at times in the defensive end. The Blue Jackets need better play from Elvis Merzlikins, however the issues are not solely on Merzlikins. The issue is deeper and can be fixed and it needs to be.
The Blue Jackets defenders are good at pushing offensive players to the sides of the ice. The issue is that it has left the middle of the ice wide open too often and it has bitten the team. The focus needs to shift from pushing players out of the middle of the ice all the way to the boards. It is a fine line, to push players out of center ice but not too far that it creates a large open space. The team needs to push to the sides while still playing closer to center ice.
Elvis Merzlikins' save percentage is .879 which needs to improve. While his production needs to improve that could be aided by defenders playing tighter in the defensive zone. When the team has done that, the goalies have played better and more relaxed. As noted, that has not been the consistent trend.
The way to do this is an adjustment from total box out to partial. It is simply never a good idea to leave big gaps at center ice. While the defensive group is marginally better this season statistically, the eye test does not match the slightly better player numbers.
The coaching staff needs to prioritize the defensive issue that has hampered the team and led to lopsided bad losses. The next ten games on the schedule are difficult and could be the most pivotal games of the season.