Do the latest injuries provide a potential glimpse of the future in the Columbus Blue Jackets' crease?
Head coach Pascal Vincent's bunch have dealt with their string of bad injury luck over the final few weeks of the season.
The latest blow came last week when Daniil Tarasov was accidentally clipped by David Jiricek, back up from Cleveland and playing in his first game for the Jackets since Jan. 9.
The results on Tarasov (8-11-3, .908 save percentage, 3.18 goals against average) were nothing short of impressive.
After receiving more consistent time in the net over the second half of the season, the 25-year-old from Russia has been one of the best goalies in the entire NHL since Feb. 21. In 13 appearances and 12 starts since then, he's 5-5-1 with a .933 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average.
After overcoming an injury to start the year and shaking off the struggles in the net for the Blue Jackets, he started looking like the guy the club thought he could be.
Perhaps a new No. 1 in town?
Last Thursday's injury makes it all the more frustrating for Tarasov who was on a roll and now has to deal with injury once again.
While it's less than ideal for the player and the team, it does signify an opportunity. The next-man-up mentality all teams have to abide by.
Jet Greaves has had a small cup of coffee at the NHL level and has always impressed with the opportunities he's had for Columbus.
It's been really fun watching Jet Greaves this year. From training camp to now, he's been so good. He's really put himself on the map as a future full-time NHLer. Great work ethic, great guy. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 6, 2024
He made his NHL debut on Apr. 4, 2023, when the Blue Jackets took on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The Jackets lost the game 4-2, but Greaves set a franchise record with 46 saves in his debut.
In his first start this season against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 8, Greaves made 41 saves to become the first goalie in Jackets history to make 41 saves in a first career win while simultaneously becoming the first goalie in 40 years to make at least 87 saves in his first two career starts.
As The Athletic's Aaron Portzline mentioned, "Toronto’s Ken Wregget had 48 saves in his NHL debut, an 8-6 win in Hartford on Dec. 8, 1983. Two nights later, he had 38 saves in a 3-3 tie at home vs. Calgary."
Greaves allowed three goals against the Florida Panthers in a 5-2 loss on Dec. 10. The Panthers iced two third-period empty net goals.
He allowed five against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 5-3 loss on Mar. 5.
A year to the day (Apr. 4) of making his NHL debut, Greaves came on in relief for the first time against the Islanders and made 25 saves while allowing one goal in a 4-2 loss.
"I think it's part of your job as a goalie to always be ready to come in and help the team," Greaves said after last Thursday's loss.
"I've been enjoying the experiences," Greaves said. "I just like to play. Wherever it is, it's always fun to be out there and learn from the situation. I just like to learn and keep getting better as much as I can."
Vincent agrees.
"He's been good," Vincent said after Thursday's game. "He's been good every time we've called for his help. He's been really good for us. He competes hard. He's had a really good season in Cleveland. Every time we've played him."
On Saturday night, Greaves won his second game in his fifth career start, 6-2, over the Philadelphia Flyers behind 37 saves. He improved to 2-3-0, 2.82, .924 on the year.
Can't eclipse these stars!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 7, 2024
Zach Werenski
Damon Severson
Jet Greaves@OHLottery | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/664A0HUQqQ
Then there's Elvis Merlizikins, currently out with a lower-body injury. He's 13-17-8, 3.45, .897 on the season, and it's been drama-filled from 'he wants out' to 'he doesn't want out' to dealing with illnesses and being pulled from many starts this season.
You never really know what you're getting with the 29-year-old veteran, who still has three more seasons under contract at $5.4 million per year.
Merzlikins has had better stretches, and he did have his first shutout in over two seasons, but is there still more to give to this team?
That'll be one of the decisions for the incoming general manager to figure out.
