NHL News

Leevi Meriläinen: Rising to the Challenge in Ottawa’s Net

Goalie Leevi Meriläinen has been the surprise of the season for the Ottawa Senators. What is he done since Linus Ullmark was injured?

by
Old Prof
January 13, 2025

Leevi Meriläinen was drafted 71st overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The Finnish netminder then spent time with Finland’s Kärpät before moving to North America with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) in 2021-22. His hockey journey included impressive seasons in the AHL and ECHL.

Entering 2024-25, Meriläinen was likely destined to spend the season in the minors. However, when Linus Ullmark was injured, the door suddenly opened. It seems as if Meriläinen strode through it with confidence.

During the 2024-25 Season, Meriläinen Has Seized His Chances

After starting the season in the AHL with Belleville, Meriläinen was called up in late December when injuries sidelined Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg. Thrust into action, he quickly showed that he could handle the NHL game.

In late December, Meriläinen made his season debut for the Senators. The result was a tough 5-4 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks. The next night, he was called to make a relief appearance against the Edmonton Oilers. It was a tough loss but also a lesson. He closed December on a high note with a 30-save 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Moving into early January, Meriläinen faced a setback with a tough 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars but remained composed despite the challenge. Then, he put up the best game of his NHL career in mid-January with a 29-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the first shutout of his NHL career.

Coach Travis Green didn’t give his young goalie much chance to worry. The following night, he immediately started in a back-to-back game against a tough Dallas Stars team that had beaten him not long before. The Stars were also sporting a seven-game winning streak. Good to the challenge, Meriläinen’s stellar game ended with a 3-2 win over the Stars. He made 24 saves to end the Stars’ winning streak.

Meriläinen Has Looked Almost Unbeatable

The Senators Meriläinen now has put up a 4-2-0 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He’s grabbed the chance to take over in the Senator’s crease. So far, the pressure of playing in the NHL doesn’t seem much of an issue. As a result, he now has the chance to become a crucial part of the Senators’ goaltending rotation while Ullmark recovers. He’ll share the workload with Anton Forsberg until Ullmark returns.

But the big question is, what happens when Ullmark returns? That would depend on how successful the youngster from Finland can be over the next few games. Meriläinen’s recent back-to-back wins against Pittsburgh and Dallas show his steady development and rising confidence. His ability to handle high-pressure situations suggests he could be given a more permanent role with the Senators as he works to become a reliable NHL goaltender.

Could the Senators have found a keeper (pun intended) due to the bad news of Ullmark’s injury? So, it looks like that’s the deal.