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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Can't handle Jets
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 38 of 44 shots in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Jets.While the Columbus Blue Jackets have proved some doubters wrong early on, the Jets' relentless offense was too much for Merzlikins to handle Friday. He had won his last two starts, including a shutout over the Islanders on Wednesday. The 30-year-old is now 2-3-0 with a 2.86 GAA and a .907 save percentage over five starts this season. Merzlikins will likely get Saturday off with Daniil Tarasov expected to start on the road against the Capitals. Merzlikins is likely to start two of three games during the Blue Jackets' swing through California next week.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Between pipes Friday
Elvis Merzlikins will tend the twine in Friday's home game against the Jets, Jeff Svoboda of the Columbus Blue Jackets' official site reports.Merzlikins is riding a two-game winning streak during which he has given up just one goal on 58 shots (.983 save percentage). While that streak does include a win over the Oilers, Friday's matchup will likely be the 30-year-old backstop's toughest test of the season, as he squares off with a Winnipeg team that is scoring a league-high 4.60 goals per game. With a back-to-back on the schedule, look for Daniil Tarasov to guard the cage on the road versus Washington on Saturday.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Blanks Isles on Wednesday
Elvis Merzlikins made 26 saves in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Islanders.It's the first shutout of the season for Merzlikins, and after a few rough years the 30-year-old netminder may be slowly regaining his confidence while working behind the tighter defensive structure of new head coach Dean Evason. Merzlikins has won two straight starts, allowing just one goal on 58 shots, and he's building a case to break out of a timeshare with Daniil Tarasov and reclaim the No. 1 job for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Set to start Wednesday
Elvis Merzlikins is expected to start in Wednesday's home game against the Islanders, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.Merzlikins is getting the opportunity to start in consecutive games after stopping 31 of 32 shots en route to a 6-1 victory over Edmonton on Monday. He's in a good position to build off that recent success against the Islanders, who are tied for 30th offensively with just 2.33 goals per game. Merzlikins has a record of 1-2-0 with a 2.76 GAA and a .900 save percentage across three outings overall in 2024-25.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Collects first win of season
Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves in Monday's 6-1 win over the Oilers.The 30-year-old goalie nearly came away with a shutout as well as his first win of the season, but Mattias Ekholm snuck home a power-play tally inside the final minute of the third period. It was Merzlikins' first action since Oct. 15, as Daniil Tarasov has taken over the top spot in the Columbus crease in the early going, but the duo could slip back into a timeshare if Elvis keeps performing well.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Tending twine Monday
Elvis Merzlikins patrol the home crease Monday against Edmonton, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.Merzlikins' return to the crease will end Daniil Tarasov's streak of four consecutive starts. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has surrendered seven goals on 48 shots in two appearances this campaign. Edmonton is coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Detroit on Sunday.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Moves past injury
Elvis Merzlikins is healthy after tending to a lower-body issue and will backup Daniil Tarasov against Toronto on Tuesday, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Columbus Blue Jackets' official site.Merzlikins hasn't played since Oct. 15 against Florida, in which he allowed four goals on 22 shots in a 4-3 loss. The Latvian netminder is 0-2-0 with an .854 save percentage and a 3.68 GAA through two appearances. The 30-year-old's next chance to draw a start will come Saturday against Nashville.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Won't play Saturday
Elvis Merzlikins (upper body) won't be in the lineup for Saturday's home game versus Minnesota, Jeff Svoboda of the Columbus Blue Jackets' official site reports.Merzlikins has a record of 0-2-0 with a 3.68 GAA and an .854 save percentage in two appearances in 2024-25. Daniil Tarasov is expected to start Saturday, while Jet Greaves will serve as the understudy.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Injury details updated
Elvis Merzlikins is now being considered out short-term with an upper-body injury, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.Merzlikins doesn't sound like he'll be available Thursday to face the Sabres, but it's unclear how long he'll be out beyond that. The 30-year-old goalie has gone 0-2-0 with seven goals allowed on 48 shots over his first two games of the season. Daniil Tarasov figures to see an uptick in playing time since the Columbus Blue Jackets don't have a back-to-back over the next week.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins: Questionable for Thursday
Elvis Merzlikins is questionable for Thursday's home game against Buffalo because of what's been described as physical fatigue, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports Wednesday.Merzlikins has stopped 41 of 48 shots (.854 save percentage) across two starts this season, including a 4-3 loss to Florida on Tuesday. The Columbus Blue Jackets have already recalled goaltender Jet Greaves, so if Merzlikins isn't available Thursday, then Greaves will dress, likely as the understudy of Daniil Tarasov.