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Columbus Blue Jackets seek spark in net with Jet Greaves recall
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- Columbus Blue Jackets seek spark in net with Jet Greaves recall
Jet Greaves is back with the Blue Jackets .
More: Columbus Blue Jackets outworked in loss to Philadelphia Flyers: 3 takeaways
This time, however, it's not an emergency recall from the AHL's Cleveland Monsters and isn't due to injuries or illness sidelining NHL goalies Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov . It's about Greaves' play with the Monsters, plus the other two scuffling.
Sep 19, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) stops a shot from forward Kirill Marchenko (86) during the first day of training camp at the OhioHealth Ice Haus.
Greaves, 23, joined Merzlikins and Tarasov for practice Wednesday at Nationwide Arena and will start Thursday against the Washington Capitals — the Metropolitan Division's surprising leaders.
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"Earned," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said of Greaves being recalled. "(You can) see the record, I'm sure, down there. He's earned the right to be here. That's why he's here."
Greaves, an NHL rookie who's played 10 games for the Blue Jackets over the past two seasons, has backstopped Cleveland to the top of the AHL North Division. He's 8-4-2 with a 3.21 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 15 appearances, including 7-1-0 with a 2.37 GAA and .927 save percentage in November that made Greaves the AHL's Goaltender of the Month.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) saves a shot from Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Poehling (25) during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Hastily returning to the Blue Jackets, however, isn't entirely about Greaves. It's also tied to the ongoing struggles of Merzlikins and Tarasov.
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"When you call a guy up, there's something that's happened, right?" Evason said. "It's earned, sure, but there's an opportunity for (Greaves) that's been created somehow. (You) can read whatever you want into it. I'm not going to get into all of that, but, yeah, he's played extremely well down there."
Merzlikins, who has two years left on a contract that carries a $5.4 million charge against the NHL's annual salary cap, took a tough loss Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers . The Blue Jackets performed poorly as a team, but Merzlikins allowed five goals on 25 shots.
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' 3.06 GAA ranks 39thamong NHL goaltenders with at least 10 games this season, while his .888 save percentage ranks 40thwithin that same filter. He's also 9-8-2 in 19 games as the Jackets' No. 1 goalie, which is a role he's handled while Tarasov struggles in a backup role.
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Tarasov is 3-5-1 with a 4.26 GAA and .857 save percentage in nine games, including three times allowing five or more goals in a game. The Blue Jackets' play in the neutral and defensive zones has, at times, put both goalies into difficult spots, and their struggles killing penalties has contributed to both goalies' issues. Still, in comparison to the rest of the NHL, the goaltending needs to improve for the Blue Jackets to remain in the playoff chase.
They've now allowed a power-play goal in 14 straight games, which is an astounding number for a team that's still within reach of a playoff spot. It's not entirely on the goalies, but there's a reason one of hockey's most uttered cliches is that goalies are a team's top penalty-killers. Merzlikins' struggle while the Blue Jackets are short-handed as compared to his success at even strength is striking.
Apr 16, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) saves a shot in front of Carolina Hurricanes center Jack Drury (18) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena.
He's been one of the NHL's top netminders at even-strength and the opposite while killing penalties. Tarasov has struggled in all situations. He's 6 feet 5, athletic and young by goaltending standards, so the Blue Jackets don't want to risk losing Tarasov via waivers while trying to get him to Cleveland. That's why they slid forward Yegor Chinakhov to injured reserve with an upper-body injury and recalled Greaves, who was informed Tuesday night as he prepared for bed.
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Greaves is looking forward to his next NHL opportunity while staying grounded.
"You dream about playing in the NHL," Greaves said. "It's where you want to be, but at the same time it's important to just be where your feet are. So, for me ... when I'm in Cleveland, I just want to be fully present and help the team win games there and just enjoy everything there because it's a fun part of the process. The same thing goes for when I'm here. I'm just trying to be present here and help the team win here."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jet Greaves recall: Columbus Blue Jackets to start Greaves vs Capitals
