• Elvis Merzlikin played the first and second periods in the victory over the New York “Rangers” (5:3). In the third period, the goal was guarded by Spencer Martins, as the Latvian was replaced due to illness.
• In the allotted time, the Latvian saved 24 out of 25 opponent shots (96.0%), helping the “Blue Jackets” to be in the lead against the favorite of this duel, the New York “Rangers” (4:1).
• Merzlikin’s teammate Martins, guarding the goal in the third period, saved 15 of 17 opponents’ shots (88.2%).
Jimmy Vesey on the doorstep saved by Elvis Merzlikins#NYR 1 #BlueJackets 2 2ɴᴅ pic.twitter.com/ZeaUZ96oKX
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 15, 2023
UPDATE: #CBJ goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (illness) is questionable to return to tonight’s game against the Rangers.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) October 15, 2023
• Rangers looked mighty early in the game, scoring early on. Eriks Gustafsson opened the score of the game in the 50th second.
• The Blue Jackets scored four unanswered goals between the 10th minute of the first period and the 14th minute of the second period to take a 4-1 lead.
• Blue Jackets’ 30-year-old captain Boone Jenner was excellent in this cut. The Canadian scored Columbus’ first three goals to complete the hat-trick.
• Interestingly, two Rangers goals in the first period were disallowed. Both times, Columbus head coach Pascal Vincent used the coach’s challenge.
• At the beginning of the third period, Merzlikin was replaced and Martins took over in goal. “Rangers” had an overwhelming advantage – 17 shots on the goal guarded by Martin were executed, while “Blue Jackets” responded with only two.
• In the 11th minute of the third period, “Rangers” lost one goal (2:4), but Columbus managed to answer with a goal. The last goal of the game was scored by Chris Crider, who mostly set the final score of the game – “Blue Jackets” won 5:3.
• The next match will be played by the Latvian team on October 17 at 02:00 Latvian time, hosting Detroit “Red Wings”, who have won two points in two games.
⚠️ Boone Jenner hat trick alert ⚠️ #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/VCBvT3FEYq
— NHL (@NHL) October 15, 2023
• Uvis Balinskis spent 13 minutes and 40 seconds on the ice in the loss against the Winnipeg “Jets” (4:6) (12 seconds played in the majority). During this time, he has one shot on goal, one blocked shot and one power play. The Latvian was one of the team’s three defensemen who finished the game with neutral efficiency.
• The Panthers led 2-1 at the beginning of the second period, but then three unanswered goals by the Jets followed. Kyle Connor, Morgan Baron and Dylan DeMelo scored to give Winnipeg a 4-2 lead.
• The Jets’ fifth goal was very interesting. The team played in the minority. Adam Lowry, who had started the movement with the puck on the Panthers’ goal, was left without a stick, but a teammate from the bench gave it to him. The situation ended with Laurie’s pass and Mason Appleton’s goal in the minority (5:2).
• In the continuation, “Panthers” knew how to quickly recover two goals (4:5), however, Connor added a point to the game, who sent the puck into the empty goal of the Florida unit 10 seconds before the end signal of the third period.
• Mark Shaiflee, who became the first star of the game with an assist and a goal, Connor with 2+1 the second star, and the third star honor to “Panthers” center Evan Rodriguez who finished the game with 2+2.
• “Panthers” and Balinskis will play their next game on October 17 at 02:00 Latvian time. The guests will have to cross spears with the New Jersey Devils.
Josh Morrissey with an incredible assist, giving his stick to Adam Lowry on the fly who feeds it over to Appleton for the goal. Unreal play.
5-2 #NHLJets
????:@TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/GEj6PPgJxR
— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) October 14, 2023
Latvians in the NHL
ForwardClubSV+PPtiShoots+/-SMMost Teodors BlùgersCanucks00+000 (0.00%)+000+0Zemgus GirgensonsSabres20+003 (0.00%)-200+0DefenderClubSV+PPtiShoots+/-SMMostUvis BalinskisPanthers20+003 (0.0%)-140+0Goalkeeper gsKlubsSU-Z%ShootsRipsMinSausaElvis MerzlikinsBlue Jackets21 -1-095.0%57/601.84970
2023-10-15 03:33:00
#Merzlikin #lets #puck #victory #Rangers #Balinskis #plays #minutes #Hockey #Sportacentrs.com
