Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Third straight win
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Merzlikins made 29 saves in a 6-2 win over Seattle on Thursday.
Merzlikins has won three consecutive games, and he's 6-1-1 in his last eight games. He allowed five goals in those two losses, and two or fewer in just three games. In other words he tends to let in more goals than any of us would like. Merzlikins is keeping his team in pretty much every game, but his overall stats remain inflated (3.12 GAA and .889 save percentage).
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Facing Kraken
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Merzlikins will patrol the home crease versus Seattle on Thursday, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Merzlikins is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts, allowing 24 goals on 215 shots (.888 save percentage). Overall, the 30-year-old netminder is 14-10-3 with one shutout, a 3.17 GAA and an .887 save percentage this year. The Kraken are averaging 2.85 goals per game this season, which is tied for 22nd in the NHL.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Back in win column Tuesday
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Merzlikins stopped 20 shots in regulation and overtime, plus both shootout attempts he faced in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Penguins.
The 30-year-old netminder wasn't exactly sharp, but Merzlikins came through when it counted, denying Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby in the shootout to secure his fourth win in his last five starts. That success has been the product of strong offensive support from the Blue Jackets rather than Merzlikins' level of play, however, as he has posted a 3.30 GAA and .881 save percentage during that stretch, but Columbus has scored at least four goals in each one of those outings.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Facing Pittsburgh
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Merzlikins will protect the road crease against the Penguins on Tuesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers relays.
Merzlikins has won three of his last four starts but has conceded at least three goals in three of those outings. The Latvian netminder hasn't fared well in nine career games against the Penguins, sporting a 2-6-0 record, .896 save percentage and 3.78 GAA. Pittsburgh is 0-1-2 in its last three games.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Fourth win in last six starts
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Merzlikins made 29 saves in a 6-4 win over the Blues on Saturday.
He and opponent Joel Hofer played ping-pong in the third period, where the teams went back and forth for five goals in a span of 3:40. Merzlikins and the Jackets buckled a bit after that to let the Blues back in the game until Mathieu Olivier scored into the empty net with 1:01 left in the third. Merzlikins is 4-1-1 in his last six starts, but he's allowed 21 goals in that span, including two five-goal losses. Your format will dictate how you use him.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Between pipes Saturday
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Merzlikins will patrol the home crease versus St. Louis on Saturday, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Merzlikins had his two-game winning streak snapped Thursday, giving up five goals on only 26 shots in a 5-4 loss to the Red Wings. The 30-year-old netminder has a 12-10-3 record with a 3.15 GAA and an .888 save percentage this season. St. Louis has earned 2.73 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Rough night against Wings
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Merzlikins made 21 saves in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Red Wings.
It was a bad night for the Blue Jackets' special teams units. Two of Detroit's goals were scored with the man advantage, while Jonatan Berggren's game-winner with 36 seconds left in the third period came on a breakaway as he stepped out of the penalty box at the end of the Columbus power play. Merzlikins has given up at least four goals in five of his last nine starts, stumbling to a 4-4-1 record with a 3.40 GAA and .877 save percentage over that stretch, but head coach Dean Evason seems content to keep him in the No. 1 spot in the crease for now.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Poised to start versus Wings
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Merzlikins is expected to get the starting nod at home against Detroit on Thursday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins has made consecutive appearances between the pipes just once over the Jackets' last 10 contests but seems poised for an uptick in opportunities moving forward. In his last five outings, the 30-year-old backstop is 3-1-1 with a 3.11 GAA and .901 save percentage.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Calms 'Canes in shootout
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Merzlikins made 32 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped three of four shootout attempts in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Hurricanes.
The 30-year-old netminder wraps up 2024 having gone 3-0-1 in his last four starts with a 2.90 GAA and .910 save percentage. Merzlikins has a fairly firm grip on the starting job in Columbus at the moment, largely due to the struggles of Daniil Tarasov (4.23 GAA, .857 save percentage), but Elvis may be playing well enough to get a team in need of help between the pipes to consider taking on his contract, which still has two years and $10.8 million left on it after 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Tending twine against Carolina
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Merzlikins will be between the home pipes against the Hurricanes on Tuesday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Merzlikins has gone 2-0-1 with a 2.94 GAA and a .908 save percentage over his last three starts, and he'll tend the twine for the fourth time in the Blue Jackets' last six games. He'll have a formidable foe in the final game of the calendar year, as the Hurricanes rank fifth in the NHL with 3.47 goals per game this season.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Solid showing vs. Boston
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Merzlikins stopped 24 of 26 shots in Friday's 6-2 win over the Bruins.
Merzlikins hasn't lost in regulation in three games in a row, going 2-0-1 with a 2.94 GAA and a .908 save percentage in that span. The lack of consistency has been an issue for him, though. Over his previous 10 games, Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage below .910 six times despite going 5-4-1 with a 2.99 GAA over that stretch.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Set to face Boston
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Merzlikins (undisclosed) is slated to start at home against Boston on Friday, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Head coach Dean Everson said Monday that Merzlikins was dealing with "bumps and bruises," which led to the goaltender being scratched for Monday's 5-4 victory over Montreal. It appears the holiday break came at an opportune time for Merzlikins, though, given that he's ready to play between the pipes after missing just one game. The 30-year-old netminder has a 10-9-3 record, 3.13 GAA and .889 save percentage in 22 outings this season. Boston ranks 26th in goals per game with 2.64, but the Bruins have been hot lately, posting an 11-4-1 record dating back to Nov. 21.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Dealing with minor injuries
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Columbus head coach Dean Everson said Merzlikins is dealing with "bumps and bruises," Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
It doesn't like a serious injury, and the decision to sit Merzlikins on Monday ahead of the NHL Christmas break gives the goalie a four-day break. Jet Greaves started against the Canadiens on Monday and came away with a win. The Blue Jackets return to action Friday at home for the first of a home-and-home set against the Bruins.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Unravels in third period
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Merzlikins stopped 25 of 30 shots in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Flyers.
Merzlikins had a shutout until the third period when the Flyers' offense burst to life with four goals. Owen Tippett then scored at 3:30 of overtime to complete Merzlikins' collapse. The 30-year-old netminder has allowed at least four goals in four of his last six games. He's down to a 10-9-3 record with a 3.13 GAA and an .889 save percentage through 22 starts. He's had some good moments, but 2024-25 is shaping up to look like the last three years -- mediocre at best. The Blue Jackets host the Canadiens on Monday.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting in Philadelphia
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Merzlikins will defend the road net against the Flyers on Saturday, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.
Merzlikins is coming off a 40-save performance in Thursday's 4-2 win over New Jersey. He has a 10-9-2 record with one shutout, a 3.05 GAA and an .891 save percentage across 21 appearances this season. Philadelphia sits 20th in the league with 2.94 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Struggles against Hurricanes
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Merzlikins allowed four goals on 28 shots in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes.
Merzlikins was given a couple of games off to reset, but he still took his fourth loss in his last five outings. He's allowed 16 goals in that span. The 30-year-old netminder is down to a 9-9-2 record with a 3.11 GAA and an .887 save percentage through 20 outings this season. The Blue Jackets are poised to keep three goalies on the roster for a while -- that could complicate Merzlikins' playing time, especially if Jet Greaves continues to perform at a decent level.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Starting Sunday
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Merzlikins will guard the road net Sunday against the Hurricanes, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Jet Greaves started Columbus' previous two contests after Merzlikins surrendered 10 goals in his last three games. Overall, the 30-year-old Merzlikins is 9-8-2 with an .888 save percentage and 3.06 GAA this season. He'll have a tough assignment against a Carolina team that's averaging 3.59 goals per game.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Played sieve again
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Merzlikins made 19 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday.
Elvis played sieve all night, but that's been part of his game for a long time. He's given up three-plus goals in nine of his last 15 starts (since Nov. 1), and four or more in eight of those nine. Merzlikins is a fantasy anchor. Roster and activate at your own risk.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: In goal Tuesday
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Merzlikins will get the starting nod at home against the Flyers on Tuesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Merzlikins will make his 10th appearance in the Jackets' last 11 contests, having posted a 6-2-1 record and an .887 save percentage along the way. While the 30-year-old backstop has been far from perfect as evidenced by his sub-.900 save percentage, he has still managed to secure a standings points in seven of his last nine outings. While it will likely be Merzlikins net versus the Caps on Thursday, a back-to-back against Anaheim and Carolina on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, should give Daniil Tarasov the chance to start.
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Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Bounces back with win Sunday
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Merzlikins stopped 24 of 25 shots in Sunday's 4-1 win over Winnipeg.
Merzlikins was outstanding Sunday and managed to get back to winning ways after losing his previous two starts. Merzlikins has posted solid numbers in recent weeks, going 7-2-1 with a 2.89 GAA and an .890 save percentage over his last 10 games. The save percentage could have been higher if he hadn't endured a three-game stretch between Nov. 21 and Nov. 27 in which he gave up 14 goals on 89 shots.
