Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins wasn't satisfied with allowing just one goal in a win over the Stars on Monday evening. He intended to keep Dallas off the board totally.

He had not been inspired by anything the Stars'players did, however rather a spectator in a Stars sweater who Merzlikins claimed made inappropriate remarks before the game about Merzlikins'late colleague and good friend, Matiss Kivlenieks.

MORE:"I was expecting a shutout, since I count on karma,"Merzlikins stated after his team's 4-1 victory,. "There are some silly individuals in this world. It was truly negative what took place in the passage when I was going out(for warmups )." Merzlikins did not duplicate what the spectator said. Kivlenieks from the injury of a firework mortar blast. The Latvian goaltender was 24. Merzlikins, 27, experienced the tragedy. The unintended surge happened at the Michigan residence of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace. Legace was holding an event after the wedding event of his little girl, Sabrina. EVEN MORE: Merzlikins made 31 saves Monday and had not been defeated until Tyler Seguin scored at 17:41 of the third period.

He additionally got help from a couple of articles-- and also, he thinks, Kivlenieks. "After the first duration, the 3 messages I obtained, I actually(securely) counted on fate. I saw that (Kivlenieks) was really there," Merzlikins stated, per The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

Merzlikins put on Kivlenieks' No. 80 for heaven Jackets' period opener Oct. 14, and the team hung a No. 80 banner over the ice. Columbus took place to beat Arizona 8-2, with Merzlikins making 36 saves. On Monday, Merzlikins improved to 4-0-0, decreased his goals-against standard to 1.47 as well as raised his conserve percent to.952.

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His very early play is right in line with an oath he made in September during.

"My strategy is to win a Vezina Prize. I'm gon na win a f-- ing Vezina for (Kivlenieks)," Merzlikins claimed. "We can not make promises because this is hockey as well as we do not know just how the season can go, however this is my objective. I think I'm mosting likely to reach it. I'm not going to have any type of restrictions. I'm just gon na go all-in. Honestly, I uncommitted, I'm going all-in for the Vezina."