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Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Voronkov practices, Merzlikins supporting Tarasov
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- Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Voronkov practices, Merzlikins supporting Tarasov
Two days after their team Halloween party, the Blue Jackets got an oversized treat at practice.
They were joined Friday by power forward Dmitri Voronkov , who's been out since late in the preseason with a left shoulder injury. Voronkov, who avoided surgery, was a partial participant and appears to be ahead of schedule in his return to the Blue Jackets' lineup. Initially, the hope was for the second-year Russian forward to make it back in late November at the soonest.
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Partially re-joining practice this quickly is an indication that Voronkov's rehab is working.
"He didn't do any of the (defensive) zone, contact drills, but it's a positive that he's in practice and he's able to get up and down the ice with the guys," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evaso n said. "I'm sure he felt real good."
Sep 19, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov (10) skates during the first day of training camp at the OhioHealth Ice Haus.
Voronkov has progressed from working with skating instructor Lee Harris to individual work with skills coach Jared Boll to a conditioning test administered by the coaching staff to rejoining practice Friday for the first time since his injury — which happened seconds into his first shift in the Jackets' seventh preseason game.
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After scoring 18 goals as a rookie, Voronkov had a strong second training camp and locked down a spot at left wing on the third line with the regular season approaching. He was supposed to skate with center Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson , who also went down with a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the regular season.
Oct 3, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) collides with Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Sam Poulin (22) early during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena. Voronkov did not return to action after the collision.
Johnson is about to start rehab for that injury, which the Blue Jackets hope will also get him back in the lineup without needing surgery.
"Anytime we can get guys that are big parts of our hockey team back in our lineup sooner than maybe we anticipated, it's exciting," Evason said. "Hopefully (Voronkov) can get back sooner than later. Obviously, Ronny's probably ahead of schedule, depending on what he was, but we'll just go through the process, and he'll just keep working on getting into the lineup."
Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) watches goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) in net during warm-ups before a September game.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalies Merzlikins, Tarasov supporting each other
Going into the Blue Jackets' game Saturday in Nashville , Daniil Tarasov could make his fourth straight start in net.
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If not, it'll be Elvis Merzlikins making his first start since sustaining a hand injury Oct. 10 in the Jackets' home-opening loss to the Florida Panthers . Either way, the backup will be on the bench supporting his teammate between the pipes. Despite a new slogan about earning ice time posted inside the Blue Jackets' locker room, at least one of the two goalies is trying to see the situation in net with a slightly different take.
"From my side, I don't feel any competition," Merzlikins said. "Right now, it's just supporting (Tarasov) while he's playing. You want to do the best possible, as a personal goal, but in the last three years, we've lost so much that right now, the most important feeling is that we win as a team, not individuals. It's not fun losing."
Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov was 7-10-2 in 2024-25 with a 3.54 goals-against average and .881 save percentage in 20 games.
Merzlikins and Tarasov could become one of the NHL's stingiest tandems, but they must stay healthier than in recent seasons and both need to improve in consistency. Within those goals, though, there is built-in competition for starts. Like their non-goalie teammates, the Jackets' net-minders need to earn their ice time too.
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"That's how it's supposed to be," Merzlikins said. "It doesn't matter who you are, how much you earn or how many games you have played in this league. Nobody's guaranteed anything. You have to earn your spot and work your (butt) off to get it. There's going to be bad moments, bad nights, but we're all human. We're all going to mess up and we're all going to shine, but we also have to find that consistency."
Sep 30, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) wears a new mask featuring the No. 13 on the front between a bottle of Coors Light and a plate of spaghetti for teammate Johnny Gaudreau during warm-ups prior to the NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena.
Merzlikins, Tarasov get October surprise at Columbus Blue Jackets Halloween party
The Blue Jackets took advantage of a three-day span between games, holding the team's Halloween party on Wednesday. A lot of great costume ideas were put on display, as usual, but two stood out for a humorous reason.
The two goalies, Merzlikins and Tarasov, were each the Cheetos mascot, Chester Cheetah, and their wives were dressed in accompanying Cheetos attire. Merzlikins posted photos of the two couples on social media, so it looked like they planned those outfits as the goaltending crew.
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That was not the case.
"We didn't even talk about it," Merzlikins said. "That was just a coincidence that he was 'Cheetos' with his wife, and I was 'Cheetos' with my wife. So, when we walked in and he was 'Cheetos,' we just started laughing. We are really goalies, I guess, and we just think the same way. Both couples were shocked when we saw each other, and we just started laughing. It was funny."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets Dmitri Voronkov practices without contact
