Elvis Merzlikins Photo: Columbus “Blue Jackets”
Last night, the game in the National Hockey League (NHL) was played by the Columbus “Blue Jackets” represented by the Latvian Elvis Merzlikkin, who conceded with the Florida “Panthers” 2: 5.
Merzlikins spent 39:59 seconds in the game, after which he was replaced. The Latvian handled 22 of the 25 (88%) shots on his guarded goal, but was very unsuccessful in the first half of the second period, when three goals were scored in five minutes. He was replaced by Joonas Korpisalo, who healed the injury, who repelled 12 out of 13 (92.3%) programs.
The first goal was scored by the Panthers hockey players, when in the second period, after less than four minutes, Merzilik was defeated by Makenzijs Vīgars (1: 0). Almost a minute later, the Latvian goalkeeper was defeated by Alekss Venbergs in the counter-attack against two Columbus defenders and sent the puck exactly under the goal scorer (2: 0). Initially, the referee did not count the goal gain, but watching the video replay, it was noticed that the goal was scored. Four minutes later, Venberg reappeared, this time taking a shot near the throw-in circle in the Columbus defense zone. In the third period, Blue Jackets player Oliver Bjorkstrand, being the most agile at the rebound, managed to regain one goal (1: 3). However, in the middle of the period, Frank Vatrano scored his fourth goal in favor of Florida, beating the rebound after a teammate’s unsuccessful one-on-one break against the goalkeeper. With just under two minutes left in the game, Zeks Verenskis gave the team a chance to play, but it was too late (2: 4). Seven seconds before the end of the game, Venberg scored his third goal in the game, sending the puck into an empty Columbus goal (5: 2).
For the Columbus unit, this was the fourth loss in the last five games, giving the penultimate, seventh place in its division with 36 points in 39 games played. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers have extended their winning streak to five in 38 games, scoring 54 points in honor of the division’s vice-leader. The next game of Columbus “Blue Jackets” will take place on the night of Monday, when at 00:00 both units will compete on their own again. Finnish goalkeeper Korpisalo will most likely start the game at the goal.
Normally, teams play 82 games in the regular season of the NHL, but this season each team will play 56 duels until May 8.
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