CBJ Today: Merzlikins pours his heart out

Each weekday this season, BlueJackets.com will post CBJ Today, a look at news, notes, analysis and fun stuff from around the Blue Jackets world. It's everything you need to know if you're a fan going into the day.

Elvis Opens Up

The numbers of late are not pretty. The Blue Jackets are 2-13-2 in the last 17 games, 0-7-1 in the last eight and have fallen behind Detroit for last place in the Central Division.
On top of that, it's official -- results Thursday have officially left Columbus eliminated from playoff contention.
Functionally, the playoffs have been but a pipe dream since the trade deadline, especially with such names as Zach Werenski, Boone Jenner and Gus Nyquist on the injured list. But to see the four-year playoff run -- with Columbus one of just three teams to make the last 16 of the postseason in that time frame -- come to an official close is still a harsh reality.
Add it all up and it's been a tough time for members of the organization. Players that are used to battling for playoff position at this time of year know that in two weeks, the season will be over. The only thing left to play for are pride and lottery odds, and you can bet the players don't care about the latter.
Especially in a pandemic year, it's not particularly fun. And that's something Elvis Merzlikins referenced in his postgame press conference after the Jackets' tight loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night.
Merzlikins, frankly, poured his heart and soul out at the interview mic. The ultra-competitive goalie isn't used to losing either, whether with the CBJ or HC Lugano in Switzerland, and that was reflected in his passionate postgame comments.
"I am tired of losing the game," he said. "I know we are trying, but this is getting embarrassing. It is what it is. I am trying to be honest with you guys. It's painful. Sitting in that locker room, and trust me, we are trying. We seriously are trying. We didn't give up, but it's just really such a bad year, I think. I just want to finish and delete this year and not think about it."

The only way out of such a losing streak is to close ranks and build slowly out of it, though the Jackets don't have much time to get that accomplished with seven games left in the campaign. But the hope from Merzlikins is that's something that can be accomplished, if only to bring some positive vibes to the table.
And as the goalie points out, the team is losing at the moment because the margin for error is so thin and the goals are few and far between, not because the squad is phoning it in down the stretch.
"We have to get all together, close, you know?" he said. "Like be really close to each other, I think. Again, I am honest. I would not lie to you, but the boys in the room, they seriously, they didn't give up. We are trying. We really do. If you look at the technical stuff, we do really good things as well. It's just, I do not know why the result is not coming, but this is the hockey. You have to be patient.
"I am the first guy who is not patient. I hate to wait. I want to do things right away, but we have to stay patient. What is left, six, seven games maybe? Seven. So you see, we are not going to the playoffs, so it's not going to change anything, but still, it is just embarrassing for us and for our organization. We are embarrassing our organization and that is the bad part. But we are not doing this on purpose. We are really trying, but I don't know. Seriously. I don't know."
Merzlikins went on to say he's having trouble sleeping because of the situation, calling it "seriously heavy."
Some might be taken aback by the goalie's comments, but in this corner, the immediate thought is, how could you not want to play with someone like that? His passion and fire -- not to mention the hatred of losing and competitiveness -- can't be doubted. It's pretty clear how much it's killing him and his teammates to be going through this rough patch.
And in a sports world where so many quotes are measured so as not to draw eyeballs or controversy, Merzlikins can't help but be honest. Perhaps my favorite thing about Elvis is he can't be anything but authentically Elvis. He is himself at all times, and there are probably times where that drives people a bit nuts.
But he's a true character in a time where those are becoming fewer and fewer in not just the NHL but sports, and I suspect he gained quite a few fans with the way he spoke from the heart Thursday.

Gerbe, Domi Return

Wednesday, I wrote
about Zac Dalpe and how the veteran has been providing leadership just by going out and bringing his lunchpail to work every day. That's especially important at a time with the Jackets missing leaders Nick Foligno, Jenner, David Savard and Nyquist because of trades and injuries.
While Dalpe left the team Wednesday to be with his family after his wife Cassandra gave birth to their third son -- congrats, Dalpes, on the birth of Beckham! -- fellow veteran Nathan Gerbe went into the lineup with the chance to fill that same role Thursday.
No one will ever question Gerbe's preparedness and effort, and that's what he wanted to bring when he went in.
"I think every time you get to play a game, it's a great opportunity," Gerbe said. "As you get older and really reflect on your career and you watch a lot of the games like I've watched this year, it's an honor and it's a privilege to put on that jersey, to get your name called to go into the lineup in the National Hockey League.
"Sometimes maybe players take that for granted. I'm always pumped and jacked when you get that call because it's just like playing your first game again. … It's such an honor and privilege to play. I hope some players keep that in mind. The career goes by fast, so you never want to look back and leave crumbs, and by crumbs I mean regrets in your career. I try to approach each game like it's my last one and my first one."

It's always fun to see Gerbs, and he's truly become a fan favorite in his time in union blue over the past few years. It's not hard to see why.
Thursday night also brought the return to the lineup of Max Domi, who had been a healthy scratch for two straight games. Head coach John Tortorella hasn't wanted to delve too deep into the reasoning behind the scratches, but it's likely fair to assume they stemmed from Domi twice taking misconduct penalties in a three-game span with the Jackets fighting to win games.
We spoke of Merzlikins' passion above, and no one can doubt Domi has it bubbling inside of him as well. "I don't think I've ever had an issue with having a spark," he said pregame, and one would have to guess Tortorella's issue was making sure that spark is pointed in the right direction. (It's also a weird world to be a player like Domi, with fighting way down and the physical element of the game so much reduced from when his father patrolled the ice.)
When asked about the situation of being scratched, Domi said simply, "It wasn't fun, that's for sure. … It's behind me now and I'm just going to grow from it and hope I never experience it again."
He went right back into an offensive role, centering Eric Robinson and Oliver Bjorkstrand on Thursday night, and finished with 15:48 of ice time.