Merzlikins (lower body) will serve as the backup to Jet Greaves on Tuesday at home against Carolina, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.
Merzlikins had a disappointing season but didn't get much help from his offense all year. The 30-year-old recorded an .897 save percentage and a 13-17-8 record in 41 appearances. His status for the 2024-25 campaign is somewhat unclear. Although he is signed through 2026-27, the netminder requested a trade in January after seemingly losing the starting gig. He didn't end up getting dealt, and all parties may have put that behind them, but it'll be something worth monitoring during the summer. There is a good chance he'll open the 2024-25 campaign as Columbus' No. 1 goaltender should he remain with the franchise.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Out Sunday
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Merzlikins (lower body) will not be available Sunday against Carolina.
Merzlikins has now been out for four consecutive games and the team hasn't provided much of an update beyond his day-to-day designation April 1. The 29-year-old is 1-4-1 with an .860 save percentage over his last six appearances. Malcolm Subban will start Sunday while Jet Greaves dresses as the backup.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Not playing Saturday
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Merzlikins (lower body) will not play Saturday versus the Flyers, Coby Maeir of 1st Ohio Battery reports.
Merzlikins will miss his third straight game. The Blue Jackets also lost Daniil Tarasov (upper body) in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Islanders and may need to recall Malcolm Subban from the minors for Saturday's contest if Tarasov is unable to go. Merzlikins is 13-17-8 with a 3.45 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 41 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Not available Thursday
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Merzlikins (lower body) will miss his second straight game Thursday against the Islanders.
Daniil Tarasov will get the call in net against the Isles with Jet Greaves serving as his backup. Merzlikins is 13-17-8 with a 3.45 GAA and an .897 save percentage in 41 contests this season. Consider him day-to-day at this time -- he could return as early as Saturday against the Flyers.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Dealing with lower-body issue
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Merzlikins is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury and won't play Monday versus the Avalanche, Coby Maeir of 1st Ohio Battery reports.
With Merzlikins unavailable, Daniil Tarasov will likely get the nod against Colorado with Jet Greaves serving as his backup. Merzlikins, who's gone 13-17-8 while posting a 3.45 GAA and an .897 save percentage through 41 appearanes this season, will be reevaluated ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Islanders.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Earns shootout win
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Merzlikins stopped 30 of 33 shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout victory over the Penguins.
Merzlikins was sharp Saturday, turning aside 30 shots in regulation before earning the win in a five-round shootout. It's the first win since March 2 for the 29-year-old Merzlikins -- he'd dropped five outings while allowing six goals in each of his previous three starts. Merzlikins improves to 13-17-8 on the season with an .897 save percentage and a 3.45 GAA. Daniil Tarasov figures to get the start Monday versus Colorado, lining up Merzlikins for a home matchup with the Islanders on Thursday.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Expected to start Saturday
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Merzlikins will be between the home pipes versus Pittsburgh on Saturday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Merzlikins will attempt to snap a five-game winless streak (0-4-1), and he has given up six goals in each of his last three games. He's 12-17-8 with a 3.47 GAA and an .897 save percentage this season. Merzlikins' recent struggles have opened the door for Daniil Tarasov to take over the starting job in Columbus. The Penguins average 2.92 goals per game, 23rd in the NHL.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Losing streak at five games
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Merzlikins stopped 29 of 35 shots in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Coyotes.
Merzlikins just can't find a groove, allowing six goals in each of the last three games. He's surrendered 23 tallies during his five-game losing streak. The 29-year-old is at 12-17-8 with a 3.47 GAA and an .897 save percentage through 40 outings overall. The Blue Jackets have mainly rotated goalies over the last two weeks, so Daniil Tarasov seems likely to start Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting against Coyotes
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Merzlikins will defend the road net Tuesday versus Arizona, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Merzlikins has allowed 17 goals on 119 shots during his four-game winless slump. In 39 games this season, he has provided a 12-16-8 record with a 3.40 GAA and an .899 save percentage. The Coyotes sit 24th in the league this campaign with 2.89 goals per contest.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Under siege in loss
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Merzlikins allowed six goals on 50 shots in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Avalanche.
The Blue Jackets struck first through Damon Severson, but Merzlikins was unable to keep the Avalanche at bay. This was the 29-year-old goalie's fourth loss in a row, and he's allowed 17 tallies in that span. He's at 12-16-8 with a 3.40 GAA and an .899 save percentage through 39 outings overall. The Blue Jackets visit the Golden Knights on Saturday, and Daniil Tarasov will likely start the second half of the back-to-back set.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: In goal versus Avalanche
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Merzlikins will get the starting nod on the road against Colorado on Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins has not been sharp in two of his last three starts, giving up three goals on four shots in Montreal on Mar. 12 and allowing six goals on 27 shots to Winnipeg on Sunday. Overall, Merzlikins is 12-15-8 with a 3.33 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He has another tough matchup as the Avalanche lead the NHL with 258 goals in 69 games.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Falls to Winnipeg
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Merzlikins allowed six goals on 27 shots in a 6-1 loss to the Jets on Sunday.
It was a tough night for Merzlikins as he allowed six goals, including four in the second period, en route to a third consecutive loss. The 29-year-old netminder had been on a decent run coming into Sunday's contest, going 2-2-1 with a .920 save percentage in his previous five starts, though he's still found himself splitting starting duties with Daniil Tarasov. Overall, Merzlikins is 12-15-8 this season with a .900 save percentage and 3.33 GAA. The Blue Jackets are back in action Tuesday on the road in Detroit.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Guarding goal Sunday
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Merzlikins will patrol the home crease Sunday against Winnipeg, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
Merzlikins is coming off a 35-save effort in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa. He has compiled a 12-14-8 record this season with a 3.25 GAA and a .903 save percentage over 37 games played. The Jets rank 17th in the league with 3.09 goals per contest this campaign.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Fades late in Thursday's loss
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Merzlikins turned aside 35 shots in regulation and overtime and one of three shootout attempts during Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Senators.
Looking to bounce back from an early hook Tuesday in Montreal, Merzlikins was sharp to begin the game and took a shutout into the third period. The Sens were able to tie it up before the final horn though, and the 29-year-old couldn't come up with stops on Tim Stutzle or Claude Giroux in the shootout. Merzlikins has given up more than three goals in a start only once since the All-Star break, but his 3.35 GAA and .900 save percentage over that stretch are far from ideal, especially in comparison to Daniil Tarasov's numbers (2.49 GAA, .928 save percentage in eight outings) during that same period. While Columbus still hasn't given up on Merzlikins and his contract would be tough to move in a trade over the offseason, at the moment, Tarasov appears to be the team's clear No. 1 netminder.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting Thursday
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Merzlikins will be between the home pipes versus Ottawa on Thursday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins started Tuesday in Montreal, but he was pulled just 5:48 into the first period after giving up three goals on four shots . Merzlikins is 12-14-7 with a 3.29 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 2023-24. He will face the Senators, who are averaging 32.3 shots, ninth in the NHL.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Gets quick hook in Montreal
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Merzlikins stopped only one of four shots before being replaced by Daniil Tarasov early in the first period during Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Canadiens. Merzlikins was ultimately credited with the loss.
The Blue Jackets came out completely flat, and Merzlikins couldn't be faulted on any of the three pucks that beat him -- two came on deflections, and the third was scored on a Montreal power play. Nonetheless, the 29-year-old netminder got the hook less than six minutes into the game as coach Pascal Vincent tried to wake up his club. Merzlikins hadn't started a game since Mar. 2 prior to Tuesday as Columbus has taken a longer look at Tarasov, and given the latter's perfect performance in relief, that workload split doesn't seem likely to change much. In eight outings since the All-Star break, Merzlikins is 3-4-0 with a 3.61 GAA and an .892 save percentage.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting in Montreal
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Merzlikins will defend the road net Tuesday against Montreal, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
Merzlikins has won two of his past three outings, stopping 90 of 96 shots during that span. In 35 appearances this season, he has a 12-13-7 record with a 3.21 GAA and a .904 save percentage. Montreal ranks 27th in the league this campaign with 2.75 goals per contest.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Available Thursday
Rotowire
Merzlikins (upper body) is good to dress as the backup goaltender for Thursday's game against Edmonton.
Merzlikins has a 12-13-7 record, 3.21 GAA and .904 save percentage in 35 appearances in 2023-24. Daniil Tarasov is expected to start Thursday, but Merzlikins might play between the pipes Saturday against Nashville.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Status in doubt
Rotowire
Merzlikins is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Merzlikins probably won't be available Monday against Vegas because the Blue Jackets brought up Jet Greaves from AHL Cleveland on an emergency basis Sunday. The 29-year-old Merzlikins has a 12-13-7 record this season with a 3.21 GAA and a .904 save percentage over 35 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Yields two goals in win
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Merzlikins stopped 26 of 28 shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Merzlikins has won two of his last three outings, and he hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of those games. The 29-year-old's victory Saturday improved his record to 12-13-7 with a 3.21 GAA and a .904 save percentage over 35 appearances this season. The Blue Jackets have a back-to-back up next -- they host the Golden Knights on Monday before visiting the Penguins on Tuesday. Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov are likely to split those contests.
