Leevi Merilainen News

With Linus Ullmark (personal) away from the team, Merilainen will jump into the starting position, beginning with Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Merilainen was serviceable in relief of Ullmark in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The 23-year-old goalie has a 3.43 GAA and .874 SV% in 10 games this season (4-6-0). The Senators enter Monday's contest as sizable -207 home favorites against a Blue Jackets team that played last night, winning 4-2 over the New York Islanders.

The Senators have been liberal with their goalie rotation over the past two weeks, and will turn to Merilainen to tend the twine on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 23-year-old Merilainen allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) in his most recent game, a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, and has battled consistency issues this season. He has a 3.40 GAA and .874 SV% in six games (3-3-0). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -128 home favorites against a Rangers team coming off an impressive 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars.

The Senators have been liberal with their goalie rotation over the past two weeks, and will turn to Merilainen to tend the twine on Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 23-year-old Merilainen allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) in his most recent game, a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, and has battled consistency issues this season. He has a 3.40 GAA and .874 SV% in six games (3-3-0). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -128 home favorites against a Rangers team coming off an impressive 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars.

The Senators are off to a solid 12-7-4 start to the season, largely without the services of Brady Tkachuk, but he will return from an injury on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Merilainen will tend the twine, looking to rebound after a 2-1 loss in his most recent performance when he saved 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%). The 23-year-old netminder has a 3.25 GAA and .875 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Senators enter the action as -114 road favorites against the Blues.

The Senators have won two straight and will turn to Merilainen between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 23-year-old Merilainen allowed three goals on 18 shots (.857 SV%) in his most recent game, but still recorded a 5-3 victory over the Boston Bruins. He has a 3.53 GAA and .868 SV% in four games this season (3-1-0). The Senators enter the action on Monday as +133 road underdogs against a Kings team that has scored only six goals in its last four games (1-1-2).

The Senators allowed three unanswered goals in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, and will revert to Merilainen in their crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Merilainen has only played three games this season (2-1-0), but has looked solid lately. After a disastrous opening contest, allowing seven goals on 26 shots (.731 SV%), Merilainen has followed up with two excellent outings (2-0-0), saving 55 of 59 combined shots (.932 SV%). The Senators enter the action on Thursday as -159 road favorites against a Bruins team riding a league-best seven-game winning streak.

The Senators allowed three unanswered goals in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, and will revert to Merilainen in their crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Merilainen has only played three games this season (2-1-0), but has looked solid lately. After a disastrous opening contest, allowing seven goals on 26 shots (.731 SV%), Merilainen has followed up with two excellent outings (2-0-0), saving 55 of 59 combined shots (.932 SV%). The Senators enter the action on Thursday as -159 road favorites against a Bruins team riding a league-best seven-game winning streak.

Ottawa recalled Hunter Shepard from Belleville (AHL) on Monday to serve as the backup to Merilainen, as the team opts to give Linus Ullmark the night off on the front end of a back-to-back. Merilainen was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.99 GGA and .925 SV% in 12 appearances (8-3-1), but struggled immensely in his only outing this season, allowing seven goals on 26 shots (.731 SV%) in a blowout 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Senators enter Monday's contest as -167 home favorites against a Boston Bruins team coming off a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Merilainen started the season in Ottawa, had a poor performance in his only outing, and was sent to Belleville (AHL), where he posted a 3.50 GAA and .897 SV% in two games (1-1-0). He returns to Ottawa, with Mads Sogaard being reassigned to the AHL in a corresponding move.

Linus Ullmark has started Ottawa's first three games this season (1-2-0), but he will get the night off on Wednesday when Merilainen tends the twine for the first time this season. The 23-year-old Merilainen was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 appearances (8-3-1). Entering the 2025-26 season as the Senators' undisputed backup, the Finnish netminder should have no problem passing his career-high 11 starts from a season ago. The Senators enter Wednesday's action as -117 road favorites against a frustrated 0-3-0 Buffalo Sabres team that has been outscored 10-2.

Merilainen spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, but was thrust into NHL action due to recurring injuries to Ottawa's goaltenders. The 22-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was excellent when called upon for Ottawa, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 outings (8-3-1). He had a 2.37 GAA and .913 SV% in 37 games (18-12-4) with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Merilainen was impressive in a 12-game stretch with Ottawa earlier this season (8-3-1), posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV%, but has been in the AHL since early February. The 22-year-old Merilainen has a 2.38 GAA and .910 SV% in 25 games with Belleville (AHL) this season (12-7-3).