Three Things: Elvis Is Perfect, Severson Scores Game-Winner, Blue Jackets Find New Ways To Win

By Will Chase on October 31, 2024 at 8:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) blocks a shot in the second period against the New York Islanders at Nationwide Arena.
© Samantha Madar-Imagn Images
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It's officially a streak.

Elvis Merzlikins stopped all 26 shots he faced and Damon Severson's third-period tally broke a scoreless tie as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New York Islanders 2-0 on Wednesday night at Nationwide Arena.

Justin Danforth scored an empty-net goal as the Blue Jackets won consecutive games for the first time this season.


Merzlikins Is Perfect

Merzlikins was nearly perfect in Monday's 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers before a power-play goal by Mattias Ekholm snuck past him inside the final minute of the third period.

On Wednesday, he had his redemption.

Merzlikins made all 26 saves to earn his 11th career shutout. Over his past two starts, he has stopped 57 of 58 shots on goal and improved his stat line to 2-2-0, 2.05 goals against average, and a .925 save percentage. Per MoneyPuck, Merzlikins had 3.08 goals saved above expected.

"It's obviously a nice feeling, the shutout," Merzlikins said. "It's definitely not just me. It's team. They're helping me a lot. They're really working hard for this, so this is our shutout."

These wins are nice and it helps to get the goaltender into his groove.

"It definitely helps me," Merzlikins said. "I'm not there where I want to be yet but I just have to keep playing. No pressure, just get out there and have fun. Enjoy the game, enjoy the hockey, and just live day by day."


Severson Scores Game-Winner

Columbus finally solved Semyon Varlamov (24 saves) and broke through with the game's first goal by Severson at 5:43 of the third period. It's his second goal of the season. Sean Kuraly and Kevin Labanc picked up the assists.

The Jackets had a goal wiped off the board late in the first period because of goaltender interference. Danforth's empty-net goal at 17:57, assisted by Cole Sillinger and Ivan Provorov, sealed the deal.


Blue Jackets Find New Ways To Win

A couple of early-season trends broke in this game.

Columbus didn't register six goals in a victory, and they broke the alternating loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win pattern as the Jackets are on their first two-game win streak of the year.

It was a relatively clean game, with only one penalty, and the Islanders were the beneficiaries of the lone second-period power play.


Flying High

The Blue Jackets conclude their homestand against the 9-1-0 Winnipeg Jets on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET from Nationwide Arena.

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