Latvia will go back to Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins in the team’s do-or-die game against Sweden later on Tuesday evening in Italy.
Merzlikins will make his second start of the tournament after losing 5-1 to the Americans in the tournament opener. Merzlikins allowed four goals before getting pulled following the second period. Artūrs Šilovs would guard the net in the team’s next two games, but struggled in a 4-2 loss against Denmark.
Latvijas izlases vārtus pret Zviedriju sargās Elvis Merzļikins, atklāja Harijs Vītoliņš. Netrenējās Jānis Jaks, kuram aizdomas par smadzeņu satricinājumu, un Rūdolfs Balcers, kurš saslimis. Vītoliņš rēķinās, ka šovakar bez viņiem
If Latvia were to beat Sweden, they would play the United States in a rematch of the opening game of the tournament on Wednesday. The team could elect to go back to Šilovs if Latvia was to pull off the victory, but the team still has to get there first.
Merzļikins has represented Latvia internationally throughout his career, dating back to his first U-17 action in 2010. This will be his first Olympic performance, though, and his first national team event since the 2014 World Championship.
The 31-year-old has an all-time World Championship record of 13-17 with a .907 save percentage. He has often been tasked with boosting Latvia’s chances of reaching the playoff round, even though they’re often outmatched. His best run came at the 2018 World Championship, where Merzļikins posted a 4-2 record with two shutouts and a .940 save percentage. He allowed just nine goals in six games.
Merzļikins has had a so-so NHL career, but is 11-8-1 with a .888 save percentage with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. He entered the tournament with a 5-1-0 record over the past six games, which includes a 24-save shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 3.
Jacob Markstrom is expected to start in net for the Swedes after winning his lone start against Slovakia.
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