‘I’m pulling the monster out of me’: Merzlikins sounds off on trade request after beating Canucks

“Well, it definitely wasn’t an easy game for me. I didn’t play [for] a while,” Merzlikins said. “At the start of the game I did not [feel the puck well]. Each period was better and better and better. The third period was awesome. Overtime and the penalty shots, I’m really happy about it.

“I’m just mad. I’m going to tell you honestly, I’m mad, and I’m pulling the monster out of me now,” Merzlikins continued. “There was no other choice [than] a win. I needed this win, I needed this win, and I got it, and now I’m laughing.”

Wow! Talk about a statement from the 27-year-old goaltender, who improved to 8-8-0 on the year with the victory on Monday. Merzlikins further discussed his future in another media availability on Monday:

“After my last interview, everybody knows I requested for [a] trade,” Merzlkins said. “Everyone was still here, playing for me and blocking the shots for me. This was awesome.

“I really appreciate [my teammates]. It wasn’t an easy game for me, and they made me feel easier,” Merzlikins added. “They let me feel that puck better and easier and I appreciate for that help.”

Merzlikins may eventually be on his way out of Columbus, but for the time being, he seems pretty happy about beating the Canucks — and seemingly proving the point he made in his last media availability that he is “not going to be a No. 3” goaltender, despite the Blue Jackets deploying him as one of late.

We’ll see if the Blue Jackets are able to use Merzlikins’ performance against the Canucks on Monday to further any potential trade talks involving the 29-year-old goaltender, who is under contract for three years after this one at a $5.4 million cap hit.

For the Canucks’ part, at least they still managed to get a point out of Monday’s game in Columbus. J.T. Miller, Conor Garland, and Elias Pettersson all scored in the 4-3 setback at Nationwide Arena.