Post Season Wrap Up: Elvis Merzlikins- 5/7/22

This season started with a banner.  A banner of a fallen goaltender, who died protecting his teammates from a firework on July 4th, 2021.  The season started with a promise from number 90, his goal was to win the Vezina Trophy, for that fallen goaltender and "little brother" of his.  He also wore his "little brothers" number 80, on opening night, in Nationwide Arena.  Elvis Merzlikins had some high expectations for this 2021-22 Columbus Blue Jackets season.  Although they didn't all happen, he inspired many this season, myself included.  Let's go to the numbers, 5th Line.  

In his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Elvis Merzlikins finished with a .907 Save Percentage.  His Goals Against Average was a fair 3.22.  Why do I say this?  Merzlikins battled many injuries this season, and was put in Covid Protocol last December.  With that being said, of the 82 games this regular season, he started 55 of them and appeared in 59.  His shining moment of the season was the final streak though, by far.   After having his back go into spasm on him he missed 2 games.  When he returned, ready to go, Head Coach Brad Larson gave him a challenge of the future.  He started every game but the game against the Ducks on April 17th and the final game against the Penguins, on April 30th.  On April 30th he was pulled up to go in, on a night he was meant to have off, due to his incredible win the night before.  A 5-2 final over the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Lightning.  Berube just wasn't in the zone that night though, so Elvis went in during Period 1.  The Penguins would score 2 more goals on Merzlikins that night, but he gave his teammates the chance to win.  He finished this 2021-22 NHL Season 27-23-7

Does Merzlikins sometimes lose the puck?  Yes.  I put this up to his young Defense not being in the right sport, blocking his view of said puck.  As I've said many times this season and long before, a goaltender is hardly ever perfect.  Even in the playoffs, Vasilevskiy, the Tampa Bay Lightning's Goaltender, has had the Maple Leafs score on him many times in a playoff game, upwards of 5 times actually.  The Offense has to work, the Defense has to work, the goaltender can't be left on his own too often.  This team has some things to work on, however I don't think many pieces are missing for this team to be a playoff team, I don't.  With Korpisalo having hip surgery we saw Merzlikins step into the crease for almost every game afterword.  I can say with confidence, after watching Merzlikins rise to the occasion, he's ready to be the Columbus Blue Jackets Starting Goaltender in the 2022-23 NHL Season.  

Will he get the Vezina Trophy this year?  No.  Did he make his "little brother" Matiss Kivlenieks proud?  I won't speak for him, but I like to think he definitely did.  Did he inspire others?  Yes.  Once this season came to a close he commented on how he had to overcome the PTSD of being in an Arena, where they shoot off a cannon for each goal, how it was a trigger for him from the night he lost his "little brother" in that firework accident.  Even following this team for 2 years today, through the sorrow of losing "Kivi" as we all called him, the idea this would do such never dawned on me.  It's true, you never know what anyone is going through.  I defend these players often, maybe a bit too much, but only because I know that like us...they are deep down only human, under that jersey and those pads.  

Beyond this, I encourage you all to go back and listen to some of Merzlikins post game interviews.  He is another player of ours which speaks so highly of this team.  He's a leader, he's clever and he loves being here in Columbus.  I can't wait to see what he does next season.  Personally, I hope all of his goals from this season carry over to next, as I can see him achieving them so vividly, now. 

Go CBJ!