The “Blue Jackets” defeated the New Jersey “Devils” at home with a score of 4:2 (1:0, 2:0, 1:2), ending a five-game losing streak.
Merzlikin dealt with 40 of 42 opponents’ shots, saving 95.2% of the shots, and was recognized as the second best player of the match.
Ivan Provorov put the puck into the visitors’ goal in the first period, and Zach Werenski and Sean Monaghan scored in the second period to make it 3-0 for the Columbus team.
Less than three minutes before the end of regular time, Luke Hughes scored the first goal of the “Devils”, but one and a half minutes before the final whistle, Timo Maier delivered the puck into the goal guarded by Merzlikin, reducing the advantage of the home team to one accurate shot.
The “Devils” changed the goalkeeper to the sixth player and Monaghan sent the puck into the empty guest goal, restoring the “Blue Jackets” two-goal lead.
With 31 points in 33 games, the “Blue Jackets” are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and will play their next match on Saturday, visiting the Philadelphia “Flyers”.