Elvis Merzlikins News

Merzlikins got the win on Friday but was not available for Saturday's game in Buffalo due to illness. Returning to practice on Monday sets Merzlikins up for a start Tuesday vs. the Bruins.

Merzlikins played the entirety of the first period of Friday's game but did not come out for the start of the second period due to an illness. Spencer Martin has entered the game in his place. Merzlikins is questionable to return.

Merzlikins will return to the crease for the Blue Jackets on Friday after a disappointing loss in his last outing. Against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, Merzlikins allowed two goals in the final five minutes of regulation in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss. The Latvian netminder is winless in his last two games (0-0-2), allowing seven total goals and posting a .896 SV%. Merzlikins was between the pipes just over two weeks ago in a 6-5 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs when he allowed five goals on 48 shots (.896 SV%), but the Blue Jackets are still sizeable +181 home underdogs against them on Friday.

Merzlikins will take the crease for the second time in three games as he takes on New Jersey Wednesday fresh off a win over Washington in his previous start (32 saves - .906 SV%). The 29-year-old has bounced back nicely after a pair of rough seasons with his 7-8-5 record, 3.17 GAA and .909 SV%. He will head to New Jersey Wednesday to take on the Devils, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a win last game and are eight in the NHL in goals per game (3.41).

After not playing the last two games for the Blue Jackets, Merzlikins will return to the crease on Thursday. Merzlikins has only played three games in December but has collected a point in each, posting a 2-0-1 record and .915 SV%. The Blue Jackets are coming off a commanding 9-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday but are slight -101 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that has won two straight but played last night, a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Islanders.

Merzlikins has not played since December 5th, when he was placed on injured reserve with an illness but participated in morning skate on Thursday and will start for the Blue Jackets after being activated from IR. Before being placed on IR, Merzlikins was playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% during a 3-2-1 stretch. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +211 road underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have collected at least a point in seven straight contests (5-0-2).

Merzlikins has not played since December 5th, when he was placed on injured reserve with an illness but participated in morning skate on Thursday and will likely start for the Blue Jackets after being activated from IR. Before being placed on IR, Merzlikins was playing his best hockey of the season, posting a .930 SV% during a 3-2-1 stretch. The Blue Jackets are sizeable +211 road underdogs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have collected at least a point in seven straight contests (5-0-2).

Merzlikins was surprisingly placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday as he battles illness and is expected to be out for at least a week. The 29-year-old has been solid despite the team in front of him struggling this season as he is 6-8-4 with a .910 SV% and a 3.10 GAA. Jet Greaves has been recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland (AHL) to replace Merzlikins.

Merzlikins will return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Merzlikins will likely return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will likely start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Merzlikins will start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.

Merzlikins will likely start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.

Merzlikins will attempt to win for the first time since November 2nd as the reeling Blue Jackets, who have lost nine straight (0-7-2), welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite being winless in his last six appearances (0-4-1), Merzlikins has managed to record a save percentage above .900 in four of those contests. The Blue Jackets rank sixth worst in the league offensively (2.68 GF / GP) but are still -139 home favourites against a Blackhawks team that is also struggling amid a four-game skid (0-4-0).

Merzlikins will look to snap the Blue Jackets' seven-game losing streak as he takes the crease for a fourth-straight game vs. Washington on Saturday. The 29-year-old has struggled for a second consecutive season as shown by his 3-5-3 record, .901 SV% and 3.24 GAA. He will face the Washington Capitals, who have won three-straight games but are struggling to find the net and are 31st in the NHL in scoring (2.36).