Merzlikins’ difficult season continues with another injury
It was a fitting sight for the Blue Jackets, who've been challenged and then ravaged by injuries from the start of this season.
After allowing his sixth goal on 24 shots in his first game since March 7 start in Pittsburgh, Elvis Merzlikins showed signs of a leg injury Saturday night during an 8-2 loss at Montreal. The Blue Jackets' goalie stayed on the ice on all fours after allowing a goal that gave Rafael Harvey-pinar his first NHL hat trick, and then got to his feet.
Merzlikins readied himself for the ensuing faceoff, played another 20 seconds and then left during a penalty stoppage after calling for Mike Vogt, the Blue Jackets' head athletic trainer. He left after another nightmarish start in a season filled with personal challenges that have included poor play, illnesses, injuries, threatening comments made by fans at Nationwide Arena and the recent death of his grandmother in Latvia.
Merzlikins returned to Latvia March 10 to see his paternal grandmother as she battled a serious illness. He didn't make it in time, learning of her death from his wife, Aleksandra, during a flight layover.
He's grateful to the Blue Jackets for encouraging his leave of absence, but it was a lot to process, especially when combined with lingering feelings 20 months after the shocking death of Matiss Kivlenieks, a close friend and fellow Latvian goalie for the Blue Jackets, in a fireworks incident July 4, 2021 at the home of goaltending coach Manny Legace.
"(Legace) said, 'Leave ... go home,'"
Merzlikins said. "I said, 'But here is my work. I mean, they are paying me, right? I can't just leave like that,' and I didn't know what to do, actually."
The sharpness Merzlikins had before leaving disappeared. He worked out in a gym in Riga, Latvia, but didn't have ice to practice for almost two weeks. There was rust to shake off whenever Merzlikins returned and it showed in the loss.
Merzlikins' injury was merely the latest for the Blue Jackets, who also lost defenseman Erik Gudbranson (upper body), forward Mathieu Olivier (lower body) and Patrik Laine (triceps strain) in the span of three days.
The Blue Jackets are also missing Patrik Laine (triceps strain), Zach Werenski (shoulder), Justin Danforth (shoulder),
Jake Bean (shoulder) and Yegor Chinakhov, who is with the AHL'S Monsters while returning from a high-ankle sprain.
CANADIENS 8, BLUE JACKETS 2
Columbus 2 0 0 - 2
Montreal 2 4 2 - 8
FIRST PERIOD: 1. Columbus, Pederson 3 (Roslovic, Johnson), 1:32; 2. Montreal, Hoffman 13 (Suzuki, Matheson), 3:39; 3. Montreal, Ylonen 6 (Gallagher, Edmundson), 9:43; 5. Columbus, Marchenko 19 (Bayreuther, Peeke), 18:00. Penalty - Hoffman, MTL (Slashing), 10:46.
SECOND: 5. Montreal, Harvey-pinard 10 (Matheson, Suzuki), 0:13; 6. Montreal, Harvey-pinard 11 (Suzuki, Hoffman), 7:13; 7. Montreal, Gallagher 5 (Ylonen, Evans), 13:08; 8. Montreal, Harvey-pinard 12 (Hoffman, Matheson), 16:42 (pp). Penalties - Savard, MTL (delay of game), 1:13; Mckown, CBJ (slashing), 2:36; Boqvist, CBJ (tripping), 15:10; Drouin, MTL (holding stick), 17:02. THIRD: 9. Montreal, Belzile 5 (Kovacevic, Tierney), 11:48; 10. Montreal, Suzuki 23 (Kovacevic, Harris), 13:49. Penalties - Harris, MTL (high sticking), 14:18; Bayreuther, CBJ (high sticking), 17:48. Shots on goal: Columbus 10-5-8 - 23; Montreal 8-17-7 - 32. Power plays: Columbus 0 of 4; Montreal 1 of 3. Goalies: Columbus, Merzlikins 7-18-2 (24 shots-18 saves), Hutchinson 1-2-1 (8-6); Montreal, Montembeault 15-14-3 (23-21). A: 21,105. T: 2:26.