Blue Jackets Get Their Starter Back From Injury

Good news for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they get two of their top players back from injury. Along with Patrik Laine, the team gets back their starter Elvis Merzlikins who has missed the past six games with a hip injury.

Before Merzlikins got injured, it was a struggle in Columbus thus far. He is posting a 4.75 GAA and an .864 SV% to go along with a 2-5-0 record. The Blue Jackets have more than enough key injuries on the back-end, so they are hoping their starter can win them some games and return to form. He is being paid $5.4 million AAV until 2027 so if Columbus has any hope in turning things around, they are going to have to get good goaltending. That starts with Merzlikins.

For his career, the Blue Jackets' starter has a 50-49-20 record with a 3.00 GAA and .910 SV%. He had very good stats in his first two seasons and even finished fifth in Calder Trophy and Vezina Trophy voting in his rookie year. It is tough to stop pucks with so many high danger scoring chances against, but it's not all on the defence or the team. Merzlikins must be better and has a -10.9 GSAA and only one quality start. But his numbers are also inflated due to two really bad starts.

The Blue Jackets are hoping their starting goalie can get his confidence back to lead into next season where they hope to make a big overall improvement as a team.