ELVIS MERZLIKINS NEWS

Back in win column Tuesday Merzlikins stopped 20 shots in regulation and overtime and both shootout attempts he faced in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Penguins.

Impact 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 -- he's 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.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Marchenko, Johnson help Blue Jackets rally past Penguins in shootout, 4-3

Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson scored in the shootout and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Tuesday night

JANUARY 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Facing Pittsburgh Merzlikins will protect the road crease against the Penguins on Tuesday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers relays.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Fourth win in last six starts Merzlikins made 29 saves in a 6-4 win over the Blues on Saturday.

Impact 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 Oliver 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.

JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

STL@CBJ: Fowler scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins | St. Louis Blues STL@CBJ: Fowler scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins

JANUARY 5 • NHL.COM

Between pipes Saturday Merzlikins will patrol the home crease versus St. Louis on Saturday, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.

Impact 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. Overall, the 30-year-old netminder is 12-10-3 with a 3.15 GAA and an .888 save percentage. The Blues are averaging 2.73 goals per game in 2024-25.

JANUARY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Rough night against Wings Merzlikins made 21 saves in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Red Wings.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Jonatan Berggren scores with 36 seconds remaining, Red Wings top Blue Jackets 5-4

Jonatan Berggren scored with 36 seconds left in the third period and the Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-4 win over the Columbus Blue Jacket...

JANUARY 3 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

DET@CBJ: Larkin scores PPG against Elvis Merzlikins | Detroit Red Wings DET@CBJ: Larkin scores PPG against Elvis Merzlikins

JANUARY 3 • NHL.COM

DET@CBJ: Kane scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins | Detroit Red Wings DET@CBJ: Kane scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins

JANUARY 3 • NHL.COM

DET@CBJ: Gustafsson scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins | Detroit Red Wings DET@CBJ: Gustafsson scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins

JANUARY 3 • NHL.COM

DET@CBJ: DeBrincat scores PPG against Elvis Merzlikins | Detroit Red Wings DET@CBJ: DeBrincat scores PPG against Elvis Merzlikins

JANUARY 3 • NHL.COM

Poised to start versus Wings Merzlikins is expected to get the starting nod at home against Detroit on Thursday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Calms 'Canes in shootout Merzlikins made 32 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped three of four shootout attempts in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Hurricanes.

Impact 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.

JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Fantilli scores in the 4th round of a shootout as Blue Jackets beat Hurricanes 4-3

Adam Fantilli scored in the fourth round of a shootout to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes

JANUARY 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAR@CBJ: Kotkaniemi scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins | Carolina Hurricanes CAR@CBJ: Kotkaniemi scores goal against Elvis Merzlikins

JANUARY 1 • NHL.COM

Tending twine against Carolina Merzlikins will be between the home pipes against the Hurricanes on Tuesday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

Impact Merzlikins has gone 2-0-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .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.

DECEMBER 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Solid showing vs. Boston Merzlikins stopped 24 of 26 shots in Friday's 6-2 win over the Bruins.

Impact 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 the .910 mark six times despite going 5-4-1 with a 2.99 GAA over that stretch.

DECEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Monahan, Dmitri Voronkov each score twice to lead the Blue Jackets past the Bruins 6-2

Sean Monahan scored twice in his 800th NHL game, helping Columbus beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 and extending the Blue Jackets’ home win streak to three games

DECEMBER 28, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Set to face Boston Merzlikins (undisclosed) is slated to start at home against Boston on Friday, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with minor injuries Columbus head coach Dean Everson said Merzlikins is dealing with "bumps and bruises," Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.

Impact It doesn't like a serious injury, and the decision to sit Merzlikins on Monday ahead of the NHL Christimas break gives the goalie a four-day break. Jet Greaves started against the Canadiens on Monday and came away with a win.

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Unravels in third period Merzlikins stopped 25 of 30 shots in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Flyers.

Impact Merzlikins had a shutout going 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 a lot like the last three years -- mediocre at best. The Blue Jackets host the Canadiens on Monday.

DECEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Tippett's OT goal and 4-point game powers the Flyers to a 5-4 comeback win over the Blue Jackets

Owen Tippett scored at 3:30 of overtime to punctuate a four-point game and the Philadelphia Flyers snapped a three-game losing streak with 5-4, come-from-behind win over the Columb...

DECEMBER 22, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting in Philadelphia Merzlikins will defend the road net against the Flyers on Saturday, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Brilliant in Thursday's win Merzlikins made 40 saves in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Devils.

Impact The 40 stops were a season high for the 30-year-old netminder, and he nearly notched his second shutout of the season, as Luke Hughes didn't get New Jersey on the board until there were less than three minutes left in the third period. Merzlikins remains tough to rely on -- he'd allowed four or more goals in three of his prior four outings -- but he still shows occasional flashes of his early-career form. On the season, Merzlikins is 10-9-2 with a 3.05 GAA and .891 save percentage as Columbus' No. 1 goalie.

DECEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE