Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins allowed five goals on 34 shots during their loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday evening. The Blue Jackets dominated the shot total in this contest, but Merzlikins was unable to keep them in the game. He allowed three goals during the opening frame and two goals in the second frame. This poor showing extended his losing streak to six contests. During this stretch, Merzlikins held a 0-5-1 record with a hefty 3.55 GAA and a .890 save percentage. Merzlikins allowed at least five goals during three of these games. However, before this skid, Merzlikins held a modest 5-3-1 record with a 2.88 GAA and a .910 save percentage. The 30-year-old will likely get the starting nod in their next game on Monday evening against the New York Islanders.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins will start between the sticks on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will try to end a five-game losing streak. Merzlikins' recent dip in form has left a negative mark on his record, as the Latvian netminder is now 22-18-5 for the season. He has allowed 3.00 goals with a .897 save percentage and one shutout. Recent weeks have been difficult for Merzlikins, but he has had the Penguins' number this season, winning both of his previous two starts against them, with only five goals allowed. Jet Greaves will serve as Merzlikins's backup on Friday, as Daniil Tarasov (illness) did not travel to the game.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (undisclosed) has been named the starter for Friday's matchup against Boston. The Latvian netminder sat out Columbus' final game ahead of the holiday break, as he has reportedly been banged up. However, Merzlikins appears to have shaken off whatever bothered him and is ready for action on Friday. It's been another wild ride for Merzlikins in 2024-25, with him going 10-9-3. He put together a four-game winning streak last month but has celebrated just three victories in eight December starts. The 30-year-old has allowed 3.13 goals for the campaign with a .889 save percentage and one shutout. Friday's matchup puts Merzlikins in a challenging spot, as the Bruins have heated up with an 8-2-1 run.
Elvis Merzlikins Celebrates First Shutout Of The Season Wednesday
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped the Islanders from scoring on Wednesday, picking up his first shutout of the season with 26 saves in a 2-0 win. The Latvian netminder has now saved 57 of 58 shots across his last two starts since returning to the lineup from a lower-body injury. Merzlikins improved to 2-2-0 on Wednesday and has a 2.05 goals-against average for the season with a .925 save percentage. The next time he heads out, Merzlikins will be battling for his first three-game winning streak in three seasons.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is expected to miss some time with an upper-body injury. The team announced that he will be out "short-term." It was initially reported that Merzlikins simply needed rest and would get a few days off. The Latvian netminder has endured another rough stretch to start the 2024-25 campaign, losing each of his first two starts and giving up seven goals while producing a .854 save percentage. The Blue Jackets have recalled Jet Greaves from the minors, with Daniil Tarasov likely getting the nod for Thursday's battle against Buffalo.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins will make his second consecutive start in goal for Wednesday's contest at the New York Rangers. The 29-year-old won his second straight start with a 4-2 win over the very same Rangers on Saturday in Columbus, allowing just two goals for the second straight game. Still, it's been an uneven season for the Latvian as he sports a 3.29 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage across 33 outings, going 11-12-7 in that time. His -1.15 goals saved above average ranks 37th of 69 qualified netminders. The Blue Jackets sit last in the Metropolitan Division with a 19-28-10 record as he takes on a Rangers offense that is tied for ninth with 3.32 goals per game on the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins will be back between the pipes for Tuesday's road game in St. Louis. It's been a rocky road for the 29-year-old this season as the club gave an extended look to the younger Daniil Tarasov of late, leading Merzlikins to demand a trade out of Columbus. He then received three straight starts but has struggled of late, going 0-2-1 while allowing 14 goals alongside an .844 save percentage over his last three appearances. Overall, Merzlikins owns a 3.35 goals-against average and .901 Sv% across 27 starts on the season, going 8-10-7 for a young and scuffling Blue Jackets team. He takes on a surging Blues team that has won five straight games with an average of 3.80 goals per game during that stretch.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has confirmed that he's requested a trade from the team. The Latvian netminder has been frustrated by the lack of playing time and said he is "not a back-up" last week. Merzlikins hadn't played since Dec. 29 before facing Vancouver on Monday. He helped the team to a 4-3 shootout victory with a 27-save effort. Through 24 starts in 2023-24, Merzlikins has posted an 8-8-6 record with a 3.22 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. It's the second season of a five-year, $27 million contract Merzlikins signed in September 2021.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins was limited to only one period of action against Toronto on Friday, leaving an entertaining 6-5 overtime win with an illness. He allowed two goals on 14 shots before Spencer Martin took over the crease. Merzlikins' form continues to be inconsistent, and his record is the best reflection of it, as the Latvian netminder has gone 7-8-6 for the season. He boasts a 3.25 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Columbus plays again on Saturday against Buffalo, and it's uncertain if Merzlikins will be available for the game.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (illness) will jump back into action on Thursday against Toronto. He's been sidelined for three games with an illness. Merzlikins has had some good performances in his most recent appearances, but 2023-24 has been another challenging campaign for him. In 19 starts, the Latvian netminder has produced a poor 6-8-4 record. He boasts a decent .910 save percentage but allows over three goals (3.10) per game. Facing a side that is ranked seventh in scoring this season with a 3.46 goals-for average, Merzlikins finds himself in a pretty bad spot on Thursday.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (illness) is expected to play Saturday against Minnesota. He has been battling an illness lately, leaving a clash with the Rangers early a week ago and sitting out two contests. Merzlikins was initially expected to return Friday versus Calgary, but he only dressed as a backup to Spencer Martin. The 2022-23 campaign was a nightmare for Merzlikins, but he's looked solid early this season, saving 57 of 60 shots for a .950 save percentage and registering a 1.84 goals-against average across two outings.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins will make his return Friday against the Calgary Flames. Merzlikins was taken out of last Saturday's game with an illness and ended up missing Monday's game as well. Before the sickness, Merzlikins had been putting up some solid numbers, posting a 1.84 GAA and .950 SV% in his two starts. He is a better option in points leagues than categories leagues for now, as Columbus hasn't proven they are a good defensive team and the goalies ratios could take a beating because of it.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (personal) has rejoined the team. He's been unavailable for the last six contests after traveling home to Latvia for personal reasons. Merzlikins should get back into action soon as well, as the Blue Jackets have a back-to-back starting on Friday against the Islanders. Daniil Tarasov has started four of the last five games, but he's back in the minors now and Merzlikins will be competing with Michael Hutchinson for playing time. The 28-year-old will hope to produce a good finish to the season after going a horrible 7-17-2 so far with a 4.10 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has left the team to travel back to Latvia to be with his family as his grandmother is seriously ill. The team has recalled Daniil Tarasov on an emergency basis from the AHL to share the goaltending duties with Michael Hutchinson. Merzlikins will miss at least one game as Columbus hosts St. Louis on Saturday. The team will then be off until Tuesday. The Blue Jackets have the worst record in the league and allow 3.70 goals per game, so neither Hutchinson nor Tarasov should be considered by fantasy managers as viable options.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (illness) is an option for Saturday's action against Detroit. An illness kept him out of Thursday's loss to Carolina, but the Latvian netminder is ready for action again. Merzlikins will be hoping to pick up his 15th start of the season on Saturday. He is boasting some really rough numbers, having posted a 4-11-0 record with a 4.62 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage. Merzlikins has unfortunately been a liability all season long and fantasy managers should stay clear of him.
Elvis Merzlikins Continues His Bout With An Illness
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is carrying a lingering illness and won't be able to play Thursday against Carolina. He is considered day-to-day for now and will get his next chance to feature on Saturday against Detroit. Merzlikins has been having a nightmare in 2022-23, going 4-11-0 for the campaign with a 4.62 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage. He has only had one start with two or fewer goals allowed and that's clearly not good enough. Joonas Korpisalo will take over the crease on Thursday, hoping to improve a 6-7-1 record against a team he beat 4-3 in a shootout in his most recent start with 39 saves.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is battling an illness and won't be able to play Tuesday versus Philadelphia. This will result in Daniil Tarasov starting for the second night in a row. Merzlikins has endured a horrible season so far, going 4-8-0 with a shockingly bad 4.68 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage. With Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) already out, the team is short of options between the pipes and head coach Brad Larsen has decided to go with Tarasov again. He's been providing plenty of saves for fantasy managers with a .915 save percentage, but Tarasov's campaign hasn't been pretty either, with the 23-year-old giving up over three goals per game (3.03) and posting a 2-6-1 record. Jet Greaves will be his backup.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (lower body) has come off Injured Reserve and will be available for Friday's contest versus the Jets. He last played on Nov. 15, logging his eighth start of the season against Philadelphia. Merzlikins will want to forget about his start to the year, as he went 2-5-0 before getting hurt, posting a 4.74 goals-against average with a .864 save percentage. With Merzlikins returning, the team has sent Daniil Tarasov back to the AHL. The young Russian has actually been the most solid masked man for Columbus this season, but Merzlikins will be battling for playing time with Joonas Korpisalo.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (lower body) looks set to miss Thursday's battle with Montreal after he exited Tuesday's 5-4 win over Philadelphia early with an injury. The team has made an emergency recall of Daniil Tarasov from the minors. Merzlikins has had an awful time this season and sits on a 2-5-0 record, having given up a whopping 4.74 goals per game with a .865 save percentage. With him missing, Joonas Korpisalo will take over the crease, entering Thursday's matchup with a decent 2-1-1 record. However, he hasn't really been in the sharpest form either, producing a 3.69 goals-against average with a .910 save percentage.
Elvis Merzlikins Exits Tuesday's Action With Injury
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins suffered an apparent leg injury in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win against Philadelphia and had to leave the game. He was injured when Noah Cates tied the game at two for Philadelphia 12:18 into the second period. Merzlikins managed to save 15 of 17 shots before being forced to exit. Joonas Korpisalo helped the team over the finish line with 18 saves on 20 shots. This season has gone very poorly for Merzlikins, as he has battled for form even since the action started and it looks like he might now be out for a bit. We should know more about his injury prior to Thursday's matchup against Montreal.
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