Blue Jackets focused on ‘mini-season’
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The first question was about the Blue Jackets’ first periods this season, which haven’t been great all year long.
That’s putting it kindly, too, since the Jackets’ sleepy starts — especially at home — are a huge reason they were in the fix they found themselves in Sunday, prior to playing another huge game against an opponent that won’t be in the playoffs.
What happened against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena happened too late for print publication, but the storyline will not change much this week for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets need to begin stacking wins in what’s now a sevengame sprint to the finish line.
Have their starts been an issue? That’s certainly part of the issue, but the Jackets don’t have time to dwell on that right now — or any numbers other than points.
“I think at this time of year, with the situation we’re in, our start better be there,” coach John Tortorella said as his team went through morning meetings. “I don’t care what stat you throw at me right now. To me, this is a little mini-season for us.”
All it took to see why he framed it that way was a glance at the Eastern Conference standings.
Prior to Sunday’s games, the Blue Jackets were three points out of the East’s second wild-card spot and five points back of the first — held in that order by the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.
Montreal and Carolina each won Saturday, widening the gaps while Columbus was idle, and then played each other Sunday night before the Jackets and Canucks took the ice.
“Now that we’re out of the (playoff) picture and trying to climb back in, we need to not only have a good start against a very hard-working team here (Vancouver), but we need to be ready to play right on through,” Tortorella said. “We’re trying to really clean the slate here and play this game, see if we can find a way to get some points, and then you’re right back into a situation where you’re looking at it.”
More on Elvis
Goalie Elvis Merzlikins spoke with reporters on a teleconference Sunday and did not disappoint in regard to his flamboyant personality.
Merzlikins, who hopes to get his U.S. work visa in time to arrive this week in Columbus, said he was ready to test the NHL “last year” and that he’s eager to prove himself with the Blue Jackets — whenever that might be.
“(It’s the) first part of a dream that I’ve had since when I was a kid that I have realized, that I’ve reached,” he said. “It’s not like it’s that big a deal, though. A lot of guys can sign a contract, but the main thing, and what I want, is to see what kind of level I am and to prove to myself and my mom — she did huge sacrifices when I was a kid — that I can stay in the best league in the world. Not just show up there.”
Merzlikins, 24, was contractually obligated to play with HC Lugano in Switzerland this season, where he played for five years.
After his season concluded, he reportedly refused to sign a tryout agreement that would’ve allowed him to finish the year with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Instead, he pushed to sign his oneyear, entry-level deal now — which means he’s officially on the Blue Jackets’ roster and is a pending restricted free agent.
His contract extension will be a one-way contract, which would require that he clear waivers if the Blue Jackets want to assign him to Cleveland.
“It’s not that I don’t want to go play in the AHL,” Merzlikins said. “It would be a good idea to play there, too, as well as the choice I (made), going to Columbus to practice and get the feeling of being in the NHL.”