Merzlikins was surprisingly placed on the Injured Reserve Wednesday as he battles illness and is expected to be out for at least a week. The 29-year-old has been solid despite the team in front of him struggling this season as he is 6-8-4 with a .910 SV% and a 3.10 GAA. Jet Greaves has been recalled on an emergency basis from Cleveland (AHL) to replace Merzlikins.

Merzlikins will return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Merzlikins will likely return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Despite losing his last two starts, Merzlikins' play has improved significantly recently as the Latvian netminder will likely start on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. After a horrid stretch of play that saw him post a .879 SV% in seven games (2-2-2), Merzlikins has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in seven of his last eight games (2-5-1), posting a .916 SV% in the process. The goal support has not been there for Merzlikins, as the Blue Jackets rank eighth-worst in the league offensively (2.88 GF / GP), but he has given his team a chance to win on most nights. The Blue Jackets are +140 home underdogs against a Senators team that has struggled to record victories lately, losing two consecutive games.

Merzlikins will start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.

Merzlikins will likely start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Blue Jackets and look to build on his best stretch of play this season. After a six-game run of winless hockey for Merzlikins (0-4-1), posting a .891 SV%, he has won two of his last three (2-1-0), registering a tremendous .940 SV%, including a heroic 40-save performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The Blue Jackets are -125 home favourites on Wednesday against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost five of their last seven (2-5-0), being outscored 27-17.

Merzlikins will attempt to win for the first time since November 2nd as the reeling Blue Jackets, who have lost nine straight (0-7-2), welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite being winless in his last six appearances (0-4-1), Merzlikins has managed to record a save percentage above .900 in four of those contests. The Blue Jackets rank sixth worst in the league offensively (2.68 GF / GP) but are still -139 home favourites against a Blackhawks team that is also struggling amid a four-game skid (0-4-0).

Merzlikins will look to snap the Blue Jackets' seven-game losing streak as he takes the crease for a fourth-straight game vs. Washington on Saturday. The 29-year-old has struggled for a second consecutive season as shown by his 3-5-3 record, .901 SV% and 3.24 GAA. He will face the Washington Capitals, who have won three-straight games but are struggling to find the net and are 31st in the NHL in scoring (2.36).

Merzlikins will look for his first victory in five contests when he suits up as the starting goalie against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Despite the Blue Jackets inability to provide ample goal support, Merzlikins has played fairly well of late, saving 132 of the last 146 shots he has faced (.904 SV%) in his last five games (1-2-1). The Blue Jackets are +109 home underdogs and will have their work cut out for them against a Coyotes team that has scored three or more goals in nine of their last 10 games (4-4-2).

Merzlikins will return to the Blue Jackets' crease on Tuesday after playing very well in a losing effort on Sunday, allowing three goals on 40 shots (.925 SV%), eventually succumbing to the New York Rangers 4-3 in a shootout. Three of Merzlikins' last four starts have been high-quality performances, but has only managed a 1-1-1 record over that span, partially due to the Blue Jackets' lack of goal production (2.73 GF / GP). The Blue Jackets are +159 home underdogs against a Penguins team that is scorching hot, outscoring their opposition 20-5 during a four-game winning streak.

Merzlikins will likely return to the Blue Jackets crease on Tuesday after playing very well in a losing effort on Sunday, allowing three goals on 40 shots (.925 SV%), eventually succumbing to the New York Rangers 4-3 in a shootout. Three of Merzlikins' last four starts have been high-quality performances, but has only managed a 1-1-1 record over that span, partially due to the Blue Jackets' lack of goal production (2.73 GF / GP). The Blue Jackets are +159 home underdogs against a Penguins team that is scorching hot, outscoring their opposition 20-5 during a four-game winning streak.

Merzlikins will be back in action against the Rangers on Sunday for the first time since being pulled after allowing three goals on ten shots in Monday's game against the Panthers. The 29-year-old netminder owns an .897 SV%, a 3.20 GAA, and a 3-3-2 record across nine starts this season. He draws another difficult assignment on Sunday with the Blue Jackets coming into the game as +190 road underdogs.

Merzlikins will start against the Florida Panthers on Monday, marking his fourth consecutive start for the Blue Jackets and seventh in their last eight games. Merzlikins is coming off back-to-back solid performances (1-1-0) in which he saved 52 of 56 shots on what has otherwise been a very inconsistent season. The Blue Jackets have struggled as a whole, ranking 28th offensively (2.55 GF / GP), leaving very little room for error for their netminders. As such, the Blue Jackets are +194 road underdogs against a Panthers team that is coming off a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Marzlikins was fantastic in his previous start as he stopped 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) no way to snapping a three-game losing streak and will take on Washington at home Saturday. The 29-year-old had a nightmarish 2022-23, but has bounced back so far this season with his 3-2-2 record, .902 SV% and 2.97 GAA. He'll take on the Washington Capitals, who just had a three-game winning streak snapped even though they are second last in the NHL in goals per game (1.89).

Merzlikins will get the start on Thursday as he is desperate to snap his current three-game losing streak but will be hard-pressed to do so against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After posting a.920 SV% in his first three games (2-1-0), Merzlikins has struggled since, failing to record a victory (0-1-2) while posting a .875 SV%. The Blue Jackets are +139 home underdogs as the Lightning will be looking to rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss on Monday against the Seattle Kraken.

Merzlikins will start for the Blue Jackets on Monday as they take on the Dallas Stars, who are sizeable -281 home favourites. After starting the season with an impressive .950 SV% in his first two games (1-1-0), Merzlikins has returned to the unattractive figures the Blue Jackets became accustomed to last season, posting a .869 SV% in his three games since. Odds certainly aren't in favour of Merzlikins on Monday but the Latvian goaltender has historically been excellent against the Stars, who have the 24th-ranked offence (2.67 GF / GP), boasting a 2.29 GAA and .924 SV% in five career appearances (2-1-0).

Merzlinkins will man the crease for the third consecutive game, his fifth start of the season, on Thursday in Montreal. Merzlinkins has been reliable to start the season, donning a 2.69 GAA and .913 SV% in four games (2-1-1), but is coming off his weakest performance where he allowed three goals on 27 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Blue Jackets are slight +102 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that is off to a 3-2-1 start this season.