With Columbus Blue Jackets starting goaltender Joonas Korpisalo expected to miss weeks with a knee injury suffered in Sunday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, backup Elvis Merzlikins will be the starter for the next little while. When asked about being thrust into the position on Monday, Merzlikins said he just wants to be left alone while he prepares.
"I talked to (goaltending coach) Manny (Legace). I talk to coaches, I talk to organization. We end up with the result that I would just like to ask you guys all to leave me alone," said Merzlikins. "I want to just focus. I just want to focus on my moment."
"There is a lot of maybe pressure on me. This is just another pressure on me,"added Merzlikins. "I don't want it. I have nine losses, if I'm not wrong. This is my moment. I want to just try to focus in it. Try to play game, my game, and try to get finally in my skin and feel myself. I'm just going to ask you guys to leave me alone for now."
Merzlikins, 25, is in his first season in the NHL. In eight starts this season, he has no wins (0-4-4), with a 3.41 GAA and .889 save percentage. It's a tough position for any first year goalie to be thrown into.
As for Korpisalo, head coach John Tortorella declined to go into specifics on the injury, only saying he felt bad for his starter.
"I feel bad for the kid. I do,” Tortorella said. “He's been kicked about here for a number of years, waiting for his opportunity, has stepped up and has just gotten better and better as we've gone through here. I think he has progressed how he handles himself, how he presents himself, and bottom line is — lately — he's even taken another stride in making big saves in key times.”
“I haven't been able to take (Korpisalo) out of the net and I've been wanting to get Elvis in because we have to see what he is as we've all talked about here,” Tortorella said. “But he has not given me an opportunity to take him out. He's played that good.”
Source: Columbus Dispatch
