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.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins will be in the net for the club on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old goaltender hasn't started a game since Feb. 17 after suffering an injury in practice. It's been a rough year for Merzlikins, who has seen his numbers dip for a second straight year. He currently features a .903 save percentage and 3.42 GAA through 32 appearances. Fantasy managers will want to be cautious when deciding whether or not to start Merzlikins tonight. The Penguins are the better team this season but they're playing on back-to-back nights and have been inconsistent in February. The Blue Jackets have been playing better as of late.
Elvis Merzlikins Looks For More Home Success Against Nashville
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins will roll out for Thursday's home match against Nashville. The Latvian has thoroughly enjoyed playing in front of the Blue Jackets faithful this season, going 9-1-1 on home ice. His overall record for the season stands at 11-7-1 with a 3.06 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout. Merzlikins will have some demons to battle here after he gave up three goals on nine shots in just 13 minutes of action in a 6-0 loss to Nashville on Nov. 30. The Predators have lost just once in their last eight outings, so this is a big test for Merzlikins' home form.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins continued his great start to the season on Friday with a 39-save effort in a 4-2 win over Vancouver. Columbus got outshot 41-21 in the game, which meant a busy night for Merzlikins, but he was in fabulous form. The Blue Jackets No. 1 improved to 9-3-0 for the season, and he now owns a 2.41 goals-against average with a .929 save percentage and one shutout. He's gone a superb 8-1-0 on home ice this season. Sadly for Merzlikins, there won't be many home games for Columbus in the next few weeks. They start a four-game road trip straight away on Saturday and will take the ice at the Nationwide Arena just three times before Christmas.
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