Jackets’ Merzlikins sounds off after another loss and fears getting as bad as Sabres

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins has had enough. And he couldn’t hold back anymore on Thursday night after his team’s eight consecutive loss. 

Having only picked up one point since April 6th, Merzlikins sounded off to reporters, clearly overwhelmed with frustration.

But what he said makes total sense after the 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I’m tired of losing the game,” said Merzlikins. “I know we are trying, but this is getting embarrassing. It is what it is. I’m going to be honest with you guys. It’s painful, sitting in that locker room. Trust me, we are trying. Seriously, we are trying. We didn’t give up, but it’s just really such a bad year. I just want to finish and delete this year and not think about it.”

The Blue Jackets aren’t going to the playoffs, but there are still seven games left to the calendar. But this is hard on the netminder, who is losing sleep over the losses and the pitiful season. 

“We have to get all together, like be really close to each other,” added Merzlikins. “I am honest and I would not lie to you, but the boys in the locker room, they are taking it rough. We are trying, we really do. If you look at technical stuff, we do really good things as well. I don’t know why the result is not coming. But this is hockey. You have to be patient. I am the first guy who’s not patient. I hate to wait. I want to do things right away. We have to stay patient…we’re not going to the playoffs. It’s not going to change anything. It’s embarrassing for us and our organization. We’re embarrassing our organization and that’s the bad part. We are not doing this on purpose. We are really trying.”

And then, he had no choice to say what’s on everyone’s mind : they might be seen as the new Buffalo Sabres. 

Ouch. 

“Personally, it’s bothering me,” he said. “I can’t sleep. What have we lost now, seven straight games? This is really sad. You can’t imagine that because you are not part of our family and you don’t live this together with us in the locker room, so you can’t understand that, but it hurts. For me personally, it hurts. Seven games? That’s really heavy. That’s seriously heavy. I don’t want to get to Buffalo…even for them it was hard but they got somehow through it. They got that win and we have to find that way too. Tonight, we played really good, I think. We had a lot of scoring chances, we just didn’t score. I don’t know even what to do. I have no words. I’m sorry.”

We kind of hope the Jackets can put together a couple wins. While the remaining games aren’t must wins for the postseason, they surely are for morale in the dressing room. 

Go Sabres! Jackets!