Merzlikins fires back at Stars fan who taunted over Kivlenieks' death

In case you missed it last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets absolutely beat up on the Dallas Stars last night, to improve their 2021-22 early season record to an impressive 4-2-0.

But the really story of last night's game was off the ice. Following the win Blue Jackets goaltender and fan favourite Elvis Merzlikins admitted that between periods a Stars fan chirped over the death of his close friend and fellow Blue Jackets netminder Matiss Kivlenieks.  

How sickening is that?

I'm all for trash talk and getting under someone's skin, but there's a clear line that you don't cross. When you're talking about someone's death, especially the tragic death of a young person and a death that is so fresh in people's minds, to me that's crossing the line. You can get your point across and you can chirp a guy into the ground without having to sink to this level.

After the game Merzlikins called out the "fan" and told how he managed to channel that energy into a win for his team.

Check it out:

"I strongly believe... I was expecting a shutout because I believe in karma. There are some stupid people in this world. It was really bad what happened in the tunnel when I was walking out. There was a fan from Dallas who (provoked) me about Matiss. After the first period, the three posts that I got, I really firmly believed in karma. I was that Matiss was really there." 

When asked if he said or did anything to the fan, Merzlikins said no, he just used the hate as motivation.

"No. Stupid people don't come into my head. I didn't get upset. I just realize how stupid people are. This is all. I don't care what he said."

Karma indeed. You reap what you sow, people. Put bad energy out into the universe and you'll get bad energy back. But a guy like Merzlikins, an eternal optimist who chooses to always see the good or the value in things, he'll get all the good karma coming to him and then some. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he and the Blue Jackets get on a bit of a roll now.