Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Brought up from minors
Rotowire
Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Sunday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Returned to AHL affiliate
Rotowire
Merilainen was sent down to AHL Belleville on Friday.
Merilainen was recalled Tuesday to back up Anton Forsberg as Linus Ullmark (strain) was unable to play. Merilainen was 2-1-0 with a 3.47 GAA and an .852 save percentage with Belleville this season before being recalled.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Elevated from minors
Rotowire
Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Tuesday to serve as the backup against Utah, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Suiting up Sunday
Rotowire
Merilainen (groin) will be in the lineup for Sunday's preseason contest against Pittsburgh.
Merilainen had been unable to practice for most of training camp after injuring his groin during Ottawa's rookie camp, but 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.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Back at top level
Rotowire
Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Saturday.
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 after selecting him in the third round of the 2020 Draft.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Gets hook in Florida
Rotowire
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.
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.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Facing Panthers
Rotowire
Merilainen will be between the visiting pipes in Florida on Thursday, Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Senators' Leevi Merilainen: Allows three in overtime loss
Rotowire
Merilainen stopped 34 of 37 shots in the Senators' 3-2 overtime loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
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.
