Olympic Moment: Werenski, Merzlikins Face Off on Hockey’s Biggest Stage
For Columbus Blue Jackets teammates Zach Werenski and Elvis Merzlikins, Thursday wasn’t just another game-it was the realization of a lifelong dream. Both players suited up for their respective countries at the Winter Olympics, and in a twist of fate, they found themselves on opposite sides as Team USA squared off against Team Latvia.
Werenski Makes His Presence Felt Early
From the opening puck drop, it was clear Werenski came ready to make an impact. Just over five minutes into the game, he delivered a crisp feed to Matthew Tkachuk, who quickly found his brother Brady for the opening goal. That early connection set the tone for Team USA and gave Werenski his seventh assist since the start of the 4-Nations Faceoff.
Werenski looked right at home on the Olympic ice-his skating was smooth, his decisions were sharp, and his ability to create space was on full display. He spent most of the game paired with Jake Sanderson on Team USA’s third defensive pair.
That’s not a knock on Werenski-it’s a testament to just how deep this American blueline is. With Quinn Hughes also in the mix, head coach Mike Sullivan has the luxury of mixing and matching elite talent.
In fact, after a penalty kill, Sullivan briefly paired Hughes and Werenski together, a move that instantly tilted the ice in Team USA’s favor.
Both defensemen ran their own power-play units, offering different looks and keeping Latvia’s penalty kill guessing. Werenski finished the game with three shots on goal and that early assist, continuing a strong stretch of play on the international stage.
Merzlikins Holds the Line-Until the Floodgates Open
For Latvia to hang with a powerhouse like Team USA, they needed a big performance from Merzlikins-and for a while, he delivered. The veteran goaltender stood tall in the first period, turning aside 14 shots and getting a little help from his goalposts along the way. He also benefitted from two successful coach’s challenges that wiped U.S. goals off the board-one for offside, the other for goalie interference.
Quinn Hughes thought he had scored, only for Brock Nelson to be ruled offside. Later, J.T.
Miller’s presence in the crease led to another U.S. goal being overturned. Merzlikins gave credit where it was due, saying postgame, “I got lucky with posts and I got lucky I have a good video coach who saved my butt two times.
He has a good eye on it and I definitely owe him a dinner.”
Latvia capitalized on the momentum swing, tying the game just under two minutes after Brady Tkachuk’s opening goal. Renars Krastenbergs beat Connor Hellebuyck to even things up at 1-1, and the first period ended with Latvia still very much in it.
But in the second period, Team USA reminded everyone why they’re among the gold medal favorites. Jack Hughes found Nelson for the go-ahead goal midway through the period, and from there, the Americans poured it on. Tage Thompson added another, and Nelson struck again, capping a dominant stretch where Team USA outshot Latvia 17-2 and built a 4-1 lead.
Merzlikins was pulled after two periods, having stopped 28 of 32 shots. Arturs Silovs took over in the third, turning aside five of six shots. Merzlikins confirmed postgame that the move wasn’t injury-related-it was simply an attempt to shift momentum.
What’s Next
Both Werenski and Merzlikins will be back in action this weekend in a pair of back-to-back games. Team USA faces Denmark on Saturday and Germany on Sunday, while Latvia flips that schedule, playing Germany first and then Denmark.
Blue Jackets Update: Trade Deadline Buzz and Contract Talks
Back in Columbus, the Blue Jackets are making some noise off the ice. According to reports, the team has informed other clubs that Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, and Charlie Coyle are off the trade market.
The plan? Lock them up with extensions.
Given the Jackets’ current 11-1 run, it’s no surprise they’re looking to keep their core intact.
This Olympic break was always circled as a window for GM Don Waddell to get down to business, and that includes progress on key restricted free agents. Talks are expected to resume with Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Jet Greaves, among others. While there’s no immediate pressure to finalize deals, securing Fantilli-arguably the franchise’s most important young piece-remains a top priority.
Players not participating in the Olympics will return to practice on Wednesday, February 18, as the team gears up for the stretch run. The Jackets will practice Wednesday and Thursday, take Friday off, and then hit the ice again over the weekend. Their season resumes February 26 in Boston, a game that could carry major implications in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Bottom line: Whether it’s on Olympic ice or back in the NHL grind, the Blue Jackets’ fingerprints are all over the hockey world right now.