The Columbus Blue Jackets had a lead over the Latest York Islanders on Sunday. And so they held this lead into the ultimate minute of the third period. Unfortunately, this lead didn’t hold. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer tied the sport, and so they scored one other goal on Elvis Merzlikins, giving them two goals in 30 seconds. Schaefer’s continued impact led Latest York to a win 3-2 at UBS Arena in Elmont, Latest York.
This was a crushing loss for the Blue Jackets. They’d the lead throughout the final few seconds. And so they could have left Latest York with each points. As an alternative, they go home with nothing. Moreover, they must determine the way to prevent losses like this in the longer term.
It is a crushing solution to lose. Nobody feels this form of loss just like the players on the ice. This rang true on Sunday, as well. Merzlikins was moderately emotional following the loss to the Islanders, as broadcast cameras caught following the sport.
Elvis Merzlikins was nearly in tears on the bench after losing the sport. Man. #cbj pic.twitter.com/gg6L4tktk6
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 3, 2025
Blue Jackets coach credits Elvis Merzlikins after Islanders loss
Merzlikins definitely didn’t feel great about how Sunday’s game ended. Nonetheless, he was an enormous reason the sport was close to start with. And this effort didn’t go unnoticed. Head coach Dean Evason pointed to his performance on Sunday as a positive.
“Obviously, we played last night and what have you ever, but they got the jump on us. We knew that they’d come out hard. Elvis obviously played great in the primary period and kept us in it, giving us a likelihood. After which within the second period, we got our legs going, and we played very well for the remainder of the sport,” Evason said, via NHL.com.
It is not the way in which anyone within the Blue Jackets locker room envisioned it. But Merzlikins did show they will depend on him. They need to seek out a solution to put this loss behind them as soon as possible. Columbus hits the ice again on Wednesday night after they tackle the Calgary Flames.