Thomas Greiss made 33 saves for the Red Wings (17-25-9).
Columbus had 70 shot attempts, Detroit had 55.
"It wasn't a 0-0 game from the chances," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "Both teams had a number of chances. It was a little bit too loose for my liking. … Both goalies had to make big saves for sure. Both were excellent."
The Blue Jackets were 0-7-2 in their past nine games. They had a nine-game stretch without a win in a season three other times, most recently Oct. 24-Nov. 11, 2014 (0-8-1).
A Columbus goal by Oliver Bjorkstrand 1:23 into the first period was overturned following a successful challenge by Detroit that Eric Robinson was offside.
Merzlikins saved a Jakub Vrana breakaway 23 seconds into second period. Greiss at 12:55 gloved a shot by Mikhail Grigorenko and with under five minutes left made a save on Bjorkstrand cutting through crease. Max Domi put a shot past Greiss but it hit the post at 15:48 of the second.
Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson was denied his 400th NHL point at 2:13 of the third period when Greiss saved his shorthanded breakaway.
In overtime, Merzlikins made a save on a Vrana breakaway after he stole the puck from Bjorkstrand. Merzlikins also made back-to-back saves on Valtteri Filppula and Michael Rasmussen beginning at 3:30.
"He gave us every opportunity to win that he could," Laine said of Merzlikins. "He was so, so good tonight. I think everybody saw that. He was just making some unbelievable saves all night long. I think we did an all right job in front of him, but I think he was unreal tonight."
Red Wings forward Joe Veleno played 14:59 and had two shots in his NHL debut. Veleno was selected No. 30 by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Draft.
"You go out for the warmup and you kind of feel the butterflies a little bit and the nerves going through you," the 21-year-old said, "but it's exciting nerves and it's obviously a great feeling to be on the ice for an NHL game.
"They're obviously giving me an opportunity. It's my job to make the most of it. Every shift I get out there I've got to do something. I've got to be engaged every shift. There's no shifts off in this league."
NOTES: The Red Wings were 0-for-1 on the power play, are 0-for-12 in their past seven games and 1-for-23 in their past 11 games. … Bjorkstrand had a five-game point streak end (six points;one goal, five assists). … Matiss Kivlenieks backed up Merzlikins after the Blue Jackets announced Tuesday that Joonas Korpisalo would miss the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury sustained Sunday in the third period of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
