The Blue Jackets have lost five straight and will turn to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Merzlikins has a 2.89 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games this season (2-4-1) and has shown glimpses of consistent play, including posting a .914 SV% in his previous five outings (2-2-1). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as +144 road underdogs against a Kraken club with a 6-8-1 record.
After a 7-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in their previous outing, with Daniil Tarasov between the pipes, the Blue Jackets will switch back to Merzlikins in the crease for the fourth time in the previous five games. The 30-year-old Merzlikins has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign but has strung together some solid efforts, posting a 2.86 GAA and .907 SV% in five contests (2-3-0). The Blue Jackets enter the action on Tuesday as -123 road favorites against a San Jose Sharks club welcoming Macklin Celebrini back into the lineup.
The Blue Jackets will return to Merzlikins between the pipes for a third straight game on Friday. After not occupying the crease in four straight, Merzlikins has regained the faith of the Blue Jackets faithful after two incredible performances (2-0-0), saving a combined 57 of 58 shots (.983 SV%), including a 26-save shutout in his previous outing, a 2-0 win over the New York Islanders. That said, Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets will be hard-pressed to extend their winning streak to three games, entering Friday's contest against the 9-1-0 Winnipeg Jets as +160 home underdogs.
For the first time this season, the Blue Jackets will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for consecutive games. After allowing seven goals on 48 shots (.854 SV%) in his first two contests, Merzlikins was tremendous in his third on Monday night, saving 31 of 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Wednesday as +130 home underdogs against a New York Islanders club that has only scored 22 goals in nine games this season, the third-fewest in the league.
Merzlikins has not played since October 15th and is winless in two outings this season, posting an ugly 3.68 GAA and .854 SV%, but will likely return to the crease on Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers. In his previous two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10), and the start of his 2024-25 campaign has not been promising for a resurgence. The Blue Jackets enter action on Monday as +212 home underdogs against the Oilers.
Merzlikins has not played since October 15th and is winless in two outings this season, posting an ugly 3.68 GAA and .854 SV%, but will likely return to the crease on Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers. In his previous two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10), and the start of his 2024-25 campaign has not been promising for a resurgence. The Blue Jackets enter action on Monday as +212 home underdogs against the Oilers.
Merzlikins has not dressed for the last two games, recovering from an upper-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup after being a full participant at practice on Monday. In his previous two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). Through two starts this season, Merzlikins is showcasing similar results, posting a 0-2-0 record with a 3.68 GAA and .854 SV%.
Merzlikins' injury is expected to be short-term. Daniil Tarasov will likely get the start on Thursday, with Jet Greaves coming up from Cleveland (AHL) to serve as his backup. Though two starts, Merzlikins is 0-2-0 with a 3.68 GAA and .854 SV%.
The Blue Jackets have alternated netminder in their first two games but will turn back to Merzlikins between the pipes on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. In his previous two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). That said, he played reasonably in his first outing this season, saving 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Columbus enters action on Tuesday as a +134 home underdog.
The Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins in their season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After an outstanding rookie season in 2019-20, where he posted a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, and five shutouts in 33 games (13-9-8), Merzlikins' quality of play has tailed off significantly and has been borderline abysmal. In his last two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). The Blue Jackets enter action as +223 road underdogs against the Wild.
The Blue Jackets will turn to Merzlikins in their season opener on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. After an outstanding rookie season in 2019-20, where he posted a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, and five shutouts in 33 games (13-9-8), Merzlikins' quality of play has tailed off significantly and has been borderline abysmal. In his last two seasons combined, Merzlikins has a horrid 3.77 GAA and .889 SV% in 71 appearances (20-35-10). The Blue Jackets enter action as +223 road underdogs against the Wild.
Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov have been alternating starts lately, and with Merzlikins battling a lower-body injury, the trend will likely continue on Monday. On Saturday, Merzlikins recorded his first win in nearly a month, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blue Jackets have lost four straight and will turn to Merzlikins for the third time in the last five games. Merzlikins has allowed six goals in each of his last two contests (0-2-0), including a 45-save outing (.882 SV%) in his last contest, a 6-1 losing effort to the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets enter action as +137 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes.
The Blue Jackets have been outscored 10-4 in their past two games (0-1-1) and will turn to Merzlikins to tend the twine on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Merzlikins has lost three straight, including a forgettable performance in his last outing, allowing six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Blue Jackets enter action as enormous +329 road underdogs.
The Blue Jackets will return to Merzlikins between the pipes after a forgettable performance in his last outing. On Tuesday, Merzlikins allowed three goals on four shots (.250 SV%) before being pulled in the first period en route to a disappointing 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Before that, Merzlikins had been playing well, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight starts (2-1-0). The Blue Jackets enter action as +109 home underdogs against the Ottawa Senators.
Merzlikins has not started since March 2nd, but he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Merzlikins allowed three goals on 30 shots (.900 SV%) in his last outing against the Canadiens, a 4-2 loss in November. That said, he has allowed two or fewer goals in his last three starts (2-1-0), including saving 26 of 28 (.929 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in his last contest.
