Elvis Merzlikins News

Merzlikins has been out since February 20th with an upper-body injury but was activated from IR on Monday, so he'll at least be available to backup on Tuesday.

Merzlikins has missed the last three games but has been activated ahead of Thursday's game in Chicago. It's unclear whether or not he will start tonight after Korpisalo posted a 22-save win on Monday.

Merzlikins allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Blue Jackets' win over the Lightning last Saturday. With Joonas Korpisalo on the losing end of Tuesday's game, Merzlikins will start Thursday's rematch vs. the Panthers. Through three starts, the 26-year-old netminder is 1-1-1 with a 3.34 GAA and .891 SV%.

The Blue Jackets went with Joonas Korpisalo in their season opening loss, so they'll go to Merzlikins in the rematch on Saturday. Merzlikins was really good after being called up from the AHL last season, going 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and five shutouts in 33 games. In his only start vs. the Predators, Merzlikins stopped 33 of 36 shots in a 4-3 shootout loss in February, 2020.

Merzlikins was banged up in the Blue Jackets’ Game 4 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs and was not available to backup in Game 5. Head coach John Tortorella was not sure how long Merzlikins will be out when he met with the media on Monday. Look for Joonas Korpisalo to start Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Merzlikins exploded onto the scene in his first year in North America, going 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and five shutouts. Merzlikins went on an eight-game winning streak from mid-January to mid-February and was hurt right before the season paused. This signing comes less than a week after Columbus signed Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year, $5.6 million extension ($2.8M AAV), so they've got their young goaltending duo tied up for the next two seasons at a $6.9M AAV cap-hit.

Merzlikins was hurt in a collision with Anthony Duclair midway through the second period and as taken out of Monday's game. The Blue Jackets announced that he will not return. Luckily, they just got Joonas Korpisalo back and he entered the game for the rookie netminder.