Posts About "Elvis Merzlikins"
Blue Jackets' Korpisalo and Merzlikins – The Next Great Goalie Tandem
November 16th, 2020 They need a nickname. How's Jelvis or Korpikins? Maybe the Blue Blockers? Whatever you want to call them, the dynamic goalie tandem of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins is likely the Columbus Blue Jackets' greatest strength heading into the 2020-21 season. They are both 26 years old, entering their prime, and have shown flashes...
Just How Good Was the Blue Jackets Goaltending Performance?
August 11th, 2020 Well, they did it. The underdog Columbus Blue Jackets knocked off the Toronto Maple Leafs in 5 games to earn a bid to the first round of the 2020 Playoffs. Because the play-ins were totally different from the playoffs. It was a series that lived up to the billing of a very stoppable force in Columbus’ offense against a very movable...
Blue Jackets Game 4 Notes: 3 Empty-Net Misses and 3:33 Bring a Game 5
August 8th, 2020 Is a 3-0 lead the new “most dangerous lead in hockey”? For the second straight night, a team lost a three-goal lead, then lost the game in OT. This time it was the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Columbus Blue Jackets to force a deciding Game 5 in their Qualifying Round series. The Blue Jackets had three attempts at an...
Blue Jackets Still Have Reason To Hold Heads High
August 8th, 2020 Did that just really happen? Or was this all a crazy dream? It's the next day and I'm still not convinced this is real. Somehow, we will have a Game 5 on Sunday night between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs. Game 4 seemingly was over. It was 3-0 Blue Jackets with just under four minutes to go. Morgan Rielly was seen...
5 Takeaways From Maple Leafs' Game 4 Comeback Win
August 8th, 2020 Speechless. Whether you’re a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Columbus Blue Jackets, my guess is that you’re speechless right now. Three goal leads are not safe in this series and Game 4 was no different as the Maple Leafs mimicked their opponents win in Game 3 with a comeback of their own. This time, the Maple Leafs tallied...
Blue Jackets Sharp In Only Postseason Tune Up
July 30th, 2020 The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Thursday night in Toronto. Let's discuss our five things we learned from this game. 1. Liam Foudy Didn't Look Out of Place All eyes were on Liam Foudy. Coach John Tortorella said he was going to play, but wasn't sure which line he'd start on. Foudy started with Gus...
Blue Jackets: Breaking Down the Bubble Roster
July 26th, 2020 The Columbus Blue Jackets have cut their roster down to the mandated 31 players that will enter the bubble in Toronto in advance of their first-round series against the Maple Leafs. They are no real surprises here. The group consists of 17 forwards, 11 defensemen and three goalies. The Blue Jackets opted to take just three goalies...
Blue Jackets Enter Bubble With Hidden Advantage
July 14th, 2020 Generally speaking, you are as good on any given night as your starting goaltender. If your starting goalie pitches a shutout, you will win. If they give up four goals in the first period, chances are you can't wait for the game to be over. That can't come soon enough. The concept of good goaltending sounds simple but its...
Korpisalo or Merzlikins: Which Blue Jackets Goalie Starts?
June 17th, 2020 As the Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to meet the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019-20 qualifying round, head coach John Tortorella faces what could be a very tough decision: which goalie starts? The best-of-five series will determine which team moves on to the Stanley Cup Playoffs . . . and which becomes a footnote. John...
2019-20 Blue Jackets Report Card
June 6th, 2020 The 2019-20 NHL regular season has come to a close. With the regular season wrapped up and a play-in round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs looming, it’s time to evaluate the Columbus Blue Jackets on their performance this season. The defense, offense, goaltending, and coaching all have been given a letter grade based on...
Blue Jackets Roster Impact From the Gaborik Trades
June 4th, 2020 Since breaking into the National Hockey League in the 2000-01 season after being selected third overall in 2000 by the new expansion franchise, the Minnesota Wild, the hockey world knew that the Slovak forward Marian Gaborik could leave his mark with the Wild and the NHL. 20 years later, no one could have expected the impact the...
Blues Jackets' Difference-Makers in 2020 Playoffs
June 1st, 2020 With the NHL’s proposed plan to return to play, the Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. They will be included in the play-in series against the Toronto Maple Leafs to determine the top 16 teams. Considering the Blue Jackets' limited playoff success last season with a sweep of the...
Blue Jackets: Jarmo Kekalainen's 3rd-Round Picks Ranked
May 28th, 2020 Ever since Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen was named Scott Howson's successor on Feb. 13, 2013, the franchise's fortunes have dramatically changed and they have slowly earned respect around the NHL. Kekalainen's focal point, among his many duties as GM, and what was missing from the early Blue Jackets' history,...
