The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without goaltender Elvis Merzlikins for the time being as the 28-year-old returns to his native Latvia to be with his family.
Merzlikins has been the primary goalie for Columbus since the March 2 trade that sent Joonas Korpisalo to Los Angeles in exchange for Kings legend Jonathan Quick and draft compensation.
Merzlikins had started five straight games for the Blue Jackets before he left the team. On the season, the netminder has career worsts in save percentage (.880), GAA (4.10) and record (7-17-2) for the lowly Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets cannot pin their defensive troubles solely on the play of Merzlikins; they have shipped the fourth-most goals in the NHL despite having used four different goaltenders. Columbus has the worst points total in the league.
In his last start on March 7, Merzlikins stopped all seven shots he faced before leaving the contest after falling ill. Veteran backup Michael Hutchinson, acquired in the trade that sent Quick to Las Vegas, went on to allow five goals as the Blue Jackets squandered a 4-0 lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blue Jackets have recalled rookie goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the AHL Cleveland Monsters while Merzlikins addresses his private matters. Tarasov is 2-9-1 in his 13 NHL starts this season. The Russian averages 3.28 goals against with a .908 save percentage.
Hutchinson and Tarasov will be the dressed goalies when the Blue Jackets return to play at home against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
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