Columbus Blue Jackets to Start Struggling Goaltender Against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in action against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and on the Leafs' side of things, Cayden Primeau is going to be the starter.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs on a two-game winning streak, they are looking to put themselves in a position where they can create separation in the Atlantic Division.
This is a lot easier said than done, although it is certainly doable. The Maple Leafs, on paper, are a better team than the Columbus Blue Jackets, who failed to make the playoffs last season.
Going into tonight's game, the Leafs will be putting Cayden Primeau in net, as Stolarz played last night against the Calgary Flames.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are going with a goaltender who has faced his fair share of struggles over the past few years.
Elvis Merzlikins gets the call against the Toronto Maple Leafs
That goalie is Elvis Merzlikins, who, at one time, was seen as a guy who was guaranteed to be traded. However, the Blue Jackets have kept him around, and so far, it's paying off.
Merzlikins is 3-1 to start the NHL season, and he has a goals-against average of 2.96 and a save percentage of .915. Of course, it's still early, but this is much better than what he has done in the past.
Overall, the Maple Leafs need to get a win tonight, and they cannot let a goaltender of any kind get in their way of that pursuit.
The team's offense has started to click, and they need to keep that going tonight, by any means necessary. Sure, the guys are tired, but they have to play motivated.
The Toronto Blue Jays are currently all tied up in the World Series. That should be motivation enough to try to become the most relevant team in Toronto.
It's not going to be easy, but it's also not impossible.
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