Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins injured vs. Senators
The injury occurred with 8:44 remaining in the period and the Senators leading 2-1.
Merzlikins remained on the ice for some time before getting to his feet as trainers rushed to his assistance. He eventually put on his mask and skated to the locker room on his own.
Center Riley Nash also left in the second.
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Merzlikins has been playing well for the Blue Jackets this season. Even despite a seven-game winless skid (0-3-4) heading into the Ottawa game, he has a 12-9-8 record with a 2.37 GAA and .922 save percentage in 31 appearances.
He was replaced by Joonas Korpisalo, who made 14 saves in his 18th win of the season.
There was no word on the status of Merzlikins and Nash, but Columbus added goalie Matiss Kivlenieks to the roster on emergency recall from the team’s AHL affiliate in Cleveland ahead of Tuesday’s game at Minnesota.
“We have looked at this as a great opportunity,” Columbus coach John Tortorella said. “We lose a couple more guys tonight. It’s just a great opportunity to define team and define not giving in.”
“We don’t have the big speeches, it’s not us against the world, none of that [stuff] anymore,” he added. “We know who we are. We’ve been this for months. We have to be ready to do it each night.”
Kivlenieks, 23, is 1-0-2 with a 2.41 GAA and .907 save percentage for the Blue Jackets this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.