Columbus Blue Jackets’ G Elvis Merzlikins leaves team due to family emergency

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without goaltender Elvis Merzlikins for the time being as the 28-year-old returns to his native Latvia to be with his family.

Merzlikins has been the primary goalie for Columbus since the March 2 trade that sent Joonas Korpisalo to Los Angeles in exchange for Kings’ legend Jonathan Quick and draft compensation.

Merzlikins had started five-straight games for the Blue Jackets before he left the team. On the season, the netminder has struggled to career worsts in save percentage (.880), GAA (4.10), and record (7-17-2) for the lowly Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets cannot pin their defensive troubles solely on the play of Merzlikins; they have shipped the fourth-most goals in the NHL despite having used four different goaltenders. Columbus has the worst points total in the league.

In his last start on March 7, Merzlikins stopped all 7 shots he faced before leaving the contest after falling ill. Veteran backup Michael Hutchinson, acquired in the trade that sent Quick to Las Vegas, went on to allow 5 goals as the Blue Jackets squandered a 4-0 lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Blue Jackets have recalled rookie goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the AHL Cleveland Monsters while Merzlikins addresses his private matters. Tarasov is 2-9-1 in his 13 NHL starts this season. The Russian averages 3.28 goals against with a .908 save percentage.

Hutchinson and Tarasov will be the dressed goalies when the Blue Jackets return to play at home against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at 7:00 pm ET.