Merlikins allowed one goal on only 19 shots (.947 SV%) but took the hard-luck loss for his third straight defeat as he was downed by Washington in his last start. The 28-year-old currently has the league's worst SV%, with his .865 SV%, and glaringly ugly 4.52 GAA to go along with his 4-10-0 record. He will be hoping for some more positive luck as he takes on Tampa Bay, who has lost their last two games but still rank sixth in the NHL in goals for per game (3.47).
