Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Skates with second group
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Merzlikins (lower body) skated with the second of three groups during Thursday's practice to open training camp, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Merzlikins had a lower-body injury for much of the last month of 2022-23, but it was expected he'd be healthy by the end of April. His presence on the ice at training camp is enough to suggest he's healthy and ready to enter the season as the Blue Jackets' clear top netminder, especially with Daniil Tarasov (knee) hurting. Merzlikins is a low-end fantasy option to begin the year -- managers may want to see how much of an impact the Blue Jackets' defensive additions will benefit their goalies.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Skipping Worlds
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Merzlikins (lower body) is expected to be fully healthy by late April, but he has elected not to play for Latvia at the IIHF World Championship in May, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
The netminder is coming off the worst season of his NHL career, and his focus this offseason is going to be on getting stronger, staying healthier and rebounding in 2023-24. "I have May, June, July, August and a little bit of September, plenty of time to get stronger and ready for the new season," Merzlikins said Sunday. "I'm going to stay all summer [in Columbus] and get myself ready." Barring a significant addition to the roster over the summer, Daniil Tarasov -- who had trouble staying healthy himself this year -- figures to be Merzlikins' main competition for the starting role with the Blue Jackets next season.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Remains out
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Merzlikins (lower body) won't be in the lineup Sunday against Ottawa, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins, who is listed as day-to-day, will miss his fourth consecutive contest. Michael Hutchinson will be the backup behind Jon Gillies on Sunday.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Unavailable Thursday
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Merzlikins (leg) will miss Thursday's contest versus Boston, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
Merzlikins has a 7-18-2 record, 4.23 GAA and .876 save percentage in 30 appearances this season. He allowed six goals on 24 shots in an 8-2 loss to Montreal on Saturday. Michael Hutchinson is expected to start Thursday, and Jon Gillies is set to backup.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Considered day-to-day
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Merzlikins (leg) is considered day-to-day ahead of Tuesday's matchup with the Rangers.
Merzlikins had just returned from a seven-game absence while attending to a family matter back home in Latvia. With Merzlikins in doubt, it will likely fall to either Michael Hutchinson or Jon Gillies to backstop the team for the time being. At this point, Merzlikins may be hard-pressed to even reach the 10-win mark this season, well behind the 27 wins he compiled last season.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Allows six in loss
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Merzlikins stopped 18 of 24 shots in the Blue Jackets' 8-2 loss to the Canadiens on Saturday.
The nightmare season for Merzlikins continues as the Latvian goaltender coughed up six goals on just 24 shots before exiting towards the end of the second period. Since the start of January, Merzlikins has only two starts in his last 16 games where he has allowed less than three goals. On the season, Merzlikins has a 7-18-2 record with a 4.23 GAA and a .876 save percentage.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Exits Saturday's contest
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Merzlikins left Saturday's game versus the Canadiens favoring his right leg, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Merzlikins looked uncomfortable on the Canadiens' sixth goal, and he came out of the game at the next stoppage, replaced by Michael Hutchinson. Merzlikins stopped 18 of 24 shots during his time in the game, which was his first action since a relief appearance March 7. More information on his status should surface before Tuesday's game versus the Rangers.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting Saturday
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Merzlikins will guard the road goal versus the Canadiens on Saturday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins will make his first start after returning to North America following a death in his family. Prior to his personal absence, he went 1-2-1 with 13 goals allowed across his previous four starts, though facing the Canadiens is a good matchup for him to get back on track.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Rejoins team Wednesday
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Merzlikins (personal) was back with the club Wednesday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Merzlikins was away from the team for personal reasons but has returned from his native Latvia. With the netminder back at practice, he should be in line to start either Friday or Saturday against the Islanders or Canadiens, respectively. The Jackets sent Daniil Tarasov back to the minors, which means Merzlikins figures to split the back-to-back with Michael Hutchinson.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Leaves for Latvia
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Merzlikins (personal) is on his way to Latvia to be with family Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins will likely miss at least a week of action as the Blue Jackets are headed out to California and Vegas next week. Merzlikins left Tuesday's game versus the Penguins with an illness and picked up a no-decision after stopping all seven shots. He is 7-17-2 with a 4.10 GAA and .880 save percentage this season. Daniil Tarasov was recalled on an emergency basis.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Leaves start after first period
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Merzlikins (illness) exited Tuesday's game versus the Penguins after the first period, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Merzlikins made seven saves in the first period without allowing a goal, and the Blue Jackets established a 3-0 lead. Michael Hutchinson took over in net for Merzlikins, who can be considered day-to-day.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting in Pittsburgh
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Merzlikins will patrol the road crease against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins struggled in his last start Saturday against the Senators, surrendering four goals on only 23 shots before being replaced by Michael Hutchinson in the second period of the eventual 5-2 loss. He'll try to get back in the win column in a road matchup with a Penguins team that's averaging 3.52 goals per game at home this campaign, eighth in the NHL.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Pulled in loss
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Merzlikins stopped 19 of 23 shots in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 loss to the Senators on Saturday.
Merzilikins allowed four goals on 23 shots, before being pulled for Michael Hutchinson early in the second period. This performance continues Merzlikins' struggles as he has allowed at least three goals in his last 11 starts. With Joonas Korpisalo now in Los Angeles, Merzlikins should be the starting netminder moving forward.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting again Saturday
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Merzlikins will guard the road goal Saturday against Ottawa, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Merzlikins will go back-to-back after stopping 31 of 34 shots in Friday's 4-2 loss to Seattle. He has a 7-16-2 record this season with a 4.05 GAA and an .880 save percentage in 27 appearances. The Senators rank 16th in the league this campaign with 3.15 goals per game.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Falls to Kraken
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Merzlikins turned aside 31 of 34 shots in Friday's 4-2 loss to Seattle.
The Kraken's final goal was scored into an empty net. Merzlikins has been nothing if not consistent over the last month-plus, and he's given up exactly three goals in a remarkable seven straight starts. Unfortunately, he plays for a team averaging just 2.58 goals per game, 30th in the league. With the roster cleared of competition at the trade deadline, Merzlikins should be the Blue Jackets' unquestioned No. 1 netminder down the stretch, although that role may not translate into many wins.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting Friday
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Merzlikins will defend the home crease versus Seattle on Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins has allowed three goals in each of his last six games, a huge improvement over the rest of the season, as he is 7-15-2 with a 4.10 GAA and .879 save percentage. Merzlikins will face the Kraken, who are sixth in NHL scoring, averaging 3.49 goals per game.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Hangs on for win in Buffalo
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Merzlikins turned aside 38 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Sabres.
It was a busy night for the 28-year-old netminder, who picked up a power-play assist on a Kent Johnson tally to open the scoring in the first period, then had to weather a furious comeback attempt by the Sabres in the third. Merzlikins' numbers on the season remain poor, but he's found some consistency lately, giving up exactly three goals in six straight starts and going 2-2-2 over that stretch with a .911 save percentage. With Joonas Korpisalo shipped to the Kings on Wednesday, Merzlikins will now share the crease with 37-year-old Jonathan Quick down the stretch, but the younger goalie will likely be given every chance to lock down the top job and re-establish himself as a reliable option for the Blue Jackets.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting in Buffalo
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Merzlikins will guard the road goal during Tuesday's matchup with the Sabres, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Merzlikins played pretty well in his last start Sunday against Minnesota, stopping 41 of 44 shots, but he still came away with a loss due to insufficient goal support from his teammates. He'll try to snap his personal three-game losing streak in a road matchup with a surging Sabres squad that's won three straight contests.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Falls to Wild in OT
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Merzlikins turned aside 41 shots in Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota.
He took a shutout into the third period with some big stops, but Merzlikins couldn't stop Kirill Kaprizov from seizing control of the game down the stretch. The 41 saves were Merzlikins' most since he kicked out 46 against the Devils on Oct. 30, and he's given up exactly three goals in five straight starts -- a marked improvement on his early-season performances, given that he still sports a 4.14 GAA and .876 save percentage.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting Sunday
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Merzlikins will get the road start Sunday against the Wild, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Merzlikins will be looking for his first win since Feb.11. Overall, it's been a tough year for the 28-year-old netminder. He's 6-15-1 with an .873 save percentage and a 4.21 GAA. He'll take on a Minnesota team that's scored just five goals in its last three games.
