Elvis Merzlikins will be between the pipes for the Blue Jackets the rest of the way.
Tuesday night, following the Blue Jackets' 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, head coach Brad Larsen said his No. 1 goalie is going to carry the mail to the finish line.
Columbus has 11 games remaining with two back-to-backs – including one in California later this month – but Larsen is sticking with his guy.
"Elvis was outstanding (against the Flyers). He gave us a chance there to kind of gather ourselves for the third," Larsen said.
After being outplayed by a wide margin through 40 minutes, Larsen said the Blue Jackets played a better third period in Philadelphia – but they needed Merzlikins to make big saves at key times to stay in the game. Merzlikins faced 38 shots in the first two periods, which Larsen said was too much.
With the Blue Jackets outside of the playoff chase, the remainder of the season will give Merzlikins the ability to assume a true starting goaltender's workload and hopefully carry some energy into the offseason.
Everyone's on and contributing @pedialyte | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/IChOumiUwZ
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 6, 2022
"On a back-to-back, he's going to get peppered sometimes (but) he stood to the challenge," Larsen said of Merzlikins. "This is great for him."
Merzlikins also had to step up when the Blue Jackets went shorthanded four times Tuesday night.
"Elvis made some timely saves on those (penalty kills)," Larsen said.
take it easy tonight, @Merzly30
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 6, 2022
you deserve it pic.twitter.com/QmPAKsgQAz
"He's going to play them all. I want him in the net," Larsen said.
Merzlikins admitted postgame he was feeling some fatigue, but happy the Blue Jackets finally broke their seven-game losing streak. He said despite the tired legs at times, a goaltender still has to fight for his teammates and find pucks through the traffic.
"It was little hard (at the start), but then obviously you get warmer and warmer and then you start controlling the game," Merzlikins said.
Keep going, keep going@pedialyte | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/dhXT2aWyV5
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 6, 2022
Merzlikins seemed to know that he'd be the starter going forward, and what's involved in taking on a bigger workload.
"I'm going to make mistakes. I'm human, everybody's making mistakes, but the most important thing is just not get down," Merzlikins said.
In 49 games this season, Merzlikins has a 23-18-0-6 record including two shutouts with a 3.37 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. He signed a five-year extension worth $5.4 million annually last offseason and figures to be a key part of the Blue Jackets' goaltending picture now and into the future.
