Columbus Blue Jackets’ Elvis Merzlikins leaves game vs. Maple Leafs early due to illness

Merzlikins, 29, played the entirety of the first period of the game, but then appeared to go to the dressing room in distress. It was initially thought that he was hurt, but based on the Blue Jackets announcement, it’s only an illness. He left the game stopping 12 of the 14 shots that he faced as Columbus was down 2-1 going into the second period.

Merzlikins’ boxcar stats don’t look ideal with a 7-8-6 record and a .907 save percentage in 22 games this season before Friday’s game, but under the hood he’s been a little bit better with eight 5v5 goals saved above expected, so he’s playing well in spite of a poor defensive team in front of him. He has yet to finish a season with a 0.5 5v5 GSAx or higher in his career thus far.

Despite his struggles throughout his career, Merzlikins is one of the better goalies on the penalty kill in the league. Since entering the league in 2019, his 87.86% save percentage on the PK is eighth among goalies with more than 100 games played in that span.

Merzlikins was a third-round pick for the Blue Jackets in the 2014 NHL Draft, and he has spent the entirety of his career in Columbus thus far. He’s currently in the second year of a five-year contract with a $5.4 million cap hit, one he signed as an extension in training camp before the 2021-22 season.

Merzlikins was replaced by Spencer Martin in the second period, who was the goalie dressed as the backup that night. Martin has a 2-7-1 record, an .887 save percentage, and a 0.08 5v5 GSAx in 11 games this season heading into Friday’s game.