DECEMBER 21, 2024 • THESTAR.COM
LEEVI MERILAINEN #1 - GOALTENDER - OTTAWA SENATORS
2.20 GAA •
209 SV •
91.70% SV%
2.20 GAA
209 SV
91.70% SV%
Ottawa Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen gets start against Vancouver Canucks VANCOUVER - Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen gets his first start of the season and third of his NHL career when Ottawa visits the Vancouver...
Starting in Vancouver Merilainen will guard the road net Saturday against the Canucks, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.
Impact It'll be the first start of the year for Merilainen. The 22-year-old netminder last appeared in the NHL in 2022, when he went 0-1-1 while stopping 43 of 49 shots across two games. Merilainen will be tasked with facing a Vancouver team that's averaging 3.09 goals per game this season.
DECEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Brought up from minors Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Sunday.
Impact Merilainen will accompany Ottawa on the team's four-game road trip before the holiday break. Anton Forsberg (undisclosed) didn't make his scheduled start against Pittsburgh on Saturday after suffering an injury while warming up for the game. With Forsberg staying behind for the trip, Linus Ullmark will likely see an increased workload.
DECEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Returned to AHL affiliate Merilainen was sent down to AHL Belleville on Friday.
Impact Merilainen was recalled Tuesday to back up Anton Forsberg as Linus Ullmark (strain) was unable to play. Merilaninen was 2-1-0 with a 3.47 GAA and an .852 save percentage with Belleville this season, before his recall.
OCTOBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Elevated from minors Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Tuesday to serve as the backup against Utah, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.
Impact Merilainen's promotion comes as Anton Forsberg was confirmed as the starter Tuesday while Linus Ullmark (strain) remains on the shelf. With the team calling Ullmark day-to-day and no back-to-backs on the short-term schedule, Merilainen is unlikely to see any starts while up in the NHL.
OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Suiting up Sunday Merilainen (groin) will be in the lineup for Sunday's preseason contest against Pittsburgh.
Impact Merilainen had been unable to practice for most of training camp after injuring his groin during Ottawa's rookie camp. However, he could get his first game action of the preseason in Sunday's matchup. Merilainen will probably begin the 2024-25 campaign with AHL Belleville.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Yet to take part in camp Merilainen has not participated in training camp yet due to a groin injury that occurred during rookie camp, per TSN 1200 Ottawa.
Impact Merilainen was expected to compete with Mads Sogaard for the No. 1 goaltending gig with AHL Belleville, but it's unclear when the former will be ready to return. Merilainen appeared in two NHL contests with Ottawa during the 2022-23 campaign, going 0-1-1 with an .878 save percentage and a 4.23 GAA. The 22-year-old was a third-round selection by Ottawa in the 2020 NHL Draft.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Dealing with groin issue Merilainen is dealing with a groin injury that isn't expected to be serious, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports.
Impact It's unclear when Merilainen suffered the injury, but it doesn't look to be a long-term concern. The 22-year-old goalie is likely to spend much of this season at AHL Belleville as a No. 3 option in goal for the Senators' organization. Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg are likely to get the bulk of the NHL starts.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Returns to AHL Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Saturday.
Impact Merilainen was called up as the backup with the Senators' top two goalies out Saturday. The 21-year-old will probably not be called back up if Joonas Korpisalo (illness) heads west on the team's road trip.
MARCH 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Back at top level Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Saturday.
Impact Joonas Korpisalo was unable to start Friday due to an illness. Merilainen is 7-6-1 with a 3.02 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 16 AHL appearances this season. The Senators are quite high on the 20-year-old Finnish netminder -- selecting him in the third round of the 2020 Draft.
MARCH 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Gets hook in Florida Merilainen stopped nine of 12 shots before being replaced by Mads Sogaard early in the second period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Panthers.
Impact It was a rough second appearance in the NHL for Merilainen, although Sogaard didn't fare any better in his place. With the Senators now officially eliminated from the playoffs, the two young netminders -- Sogaard is 22, while Merilainen is only 20 -- could see the bulk of the work between the pipes for the remainder of the schedule instead of 35-year-old Cam Talbot.
APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Returned to AHL Merilainen was sent to AHL Belleville on Friday.
Impact Merilainen was pulled Thursday after giving up three goals on 12 shots in a 7-2 loss to the Panthers. He was 0-1-1, giving up six goals on 49 shots in his two NHL games. The 20-year-old has a bright future, but he needs more experience, which he will get at the AHL level.
APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Facing Panthers Merilainen will be between the visiting pipes in Florida on Thursday, Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Impact Merilainen made his NHL debut Tuesday in a 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina, stopping 34 shots. The Senators are on the verge of elimination in the Eastern Conference and are looking towards the future by playing Merilainen against the Panthers. Florida is fifth in NHL scoring, averaging 3.49 goals per game.
APRIL 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
GARRIOCH: D.J. Smith is toying with the idea of sticking with Leevi Merilainen "Right now, we're just trying to look for the hot hand and find a way to win a game."
APRIL 5, 2023 • WINNIPEGSUN.COM
Allows three in overtime loss Merilainen stopped 34 of 37 shots in the Senators' 3-2 overtime loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Impact In his NHL debut, Merilainen started off shaky, allowing two goals in the first period. He would settle in the rest of the game before allowing the eventual game-winner in overtime. The Finnish netminder should remain the backup to Cam Talbot until Mads Sogaard is ready to return.
APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Set to face Hurricanes Merilainen was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports, indicating he will start in Carolina on Tuesday.
Impact Merilainen is poised to make his NHL debut after being called up from the minors Sunday. He posted a 41-save shutout win against Toronto in his AHL debut with Belleville on Saturday. Merilainen spent the first part of the year playing in Finland with Karpat.
APRIL 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
OHL Roundup: Frontenacs snap Bulldogs' win streak, Steelheads blank 67's KINGSTON, Ont. - Leevi Merilainen stopped a whopping 53 shots on Sunday, powering the Kingston Frontenacs to a 5-4 win over the Hamilton Bul...
FEBRUARY 13, 2022 • THESTAR.COM
