| Oct. 16, 2026 |
Merilainen made 36 saves in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Panthers. - The 24-year-old netminder took a shutout into the third period as the Canucks threatened a road upset, but Merilainen couldn't stop the red-hot Brady Tkachuk from striking twice in the final nine minutes of regulation, including the game-tying goal with just 13 seconds left on the clock. Tkachuk then finished his hat trick with a slick move into the slot in OT to create an open look on Merilainen. The former Ottawa goalie has started three of the last four games for Vancouver, stopping 102 of 111 shots (.919 save percentage) over that stretch, and on the season he's 1-1-1 in six appearances with a 2.51 GAA and .926 save percentage. Merilainen's strong play appears to be earning him an audition in the top spot on the depth chart ahead of the struggling Kevin Lankinen. |
None |
| Oct. 15, 2026 |
Merilainen was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports, indicating that he'll draw the road start against Florida. - Merilainen will draw a second consecutive start after he allowed three goals on 38 shots during a 3-2 regulation loss to the Islanders on the road Tuesday. He's appeared in five games to begin the regular season, going 1-1-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .927 save percentage. |
None |
| Oct. 14, 2026 |
Merilainen halted 33 of 36 shots on net in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Islanders. - While the end result of Tuesday's contest didn't go his way, Merilainen continued to be a bright spot for the Canucks with his performance in net. He allowed just three goals against 36 shots on net, which helped Vancouver have a chance at winning throughout the entire contest. With Tuesday's contest in the books, the 24-year-old goalie now has a 1-1-0 record, a 2.40 GAA and a .926 save percentage across five appearances. He's proven to be the more-reliable option between the pipes for the Canucks compared to Kevin Lankinen, who has struggled mightily to open the 2026-27 campaign. If Merialinen's rise in production continues, he'll not only be on the fantasy radar in standard formats, but also one of the best waiver claims in recent memory. For now, he's a solid spot start in deep fantasy leagues with a bundle of upside. |
None |
| Oct. 13, 2026 |
Merilainen will patrol the road paint in Tuesday's clash against the Islanders, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. - Merilainen will return to action Tuesday after avoiding his first loss of the season in Saturday's clash, where he was off the ice having his skate repaired when Kevin Lankinen allowed the game-winning goal. Outside of Saturday's game, the 24-year-old Merilainen has fared well to begin the new season, where he has a 1-0-0 record, a 2.18 GAA and a .929 save percentage across four appearances. While the young netminder's fantasy stock is on the rise, he'll have to prove himself in a tough matchup with the Islanders on Tuesday. He's a spot start option for fantasy managers in a pinch, but he should be left on waivers for the time being in standard formats. |
None |
| Oct. 10, 2026 |
Merilainen is set to start on the road against the Devils on Saturday, per Mike Morreale of NHL.com. - Merilainen has a 1-0-0 record, 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage across three appearances this season. That's in stark contrast to Vancouver's other goaltender, Kevin Lankinen, who is 1-3-0 with a 7.06 GAA and a .786 save percentage in four outings. With that in mind, there might be an opportunity here for Merilainen to earn a bigger share of Vancouver's starts. New Jersey has gotten off to a slow start offensively, averaging just 2.00 goals through three games. |
None |
| Oct. 9, 2026 |
Merilainen turned aside 15 of 16 shots after replacing Kevin Lankinen to begin the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes. - It's already the second time this season that Lankinen has gotten an early hook, and Merilainen has looked sharp in a low-pressure relief situation. While Lankinen has faced the tougher assignments, the difference in their numbers so far couldn't be more stark -- Merilainen has won his only start while producing a 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage in five periods of action, while Lankinen is 1-3-0 with a hideous 7.06 GAA and .786 save percentage. The Canucks play back-to-back games this weekend on the road against the Devils and Rangers as they continue an east coast swing, and if Merilainen outplays Lankinen once again, he could make a quick push to the top of the depth chart. |
None |
| Oct. 3, 2026 |
Merilainen was the first goalie off the ice at Saturday's morning skate, indicating that he'll start the team's home matchup against the Flames, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. - Merilainen is in line to make his first start for the Canucks after he was claimed off waivers from Ottawa in late September. The 24-year-old backstop made his Vancouver debut in Thursday's 9-7 loss, where he stopped 10 out of the 11 shots he saw in relief. He's looking to bounce back after a tough 2025-26 campaign, where he posted an 8-10-1 record, a 3.51 GAA and an .860 save percentage across 20 regular-season outings. He'll face off against a Calgary offense that was kept to just one score in their Opening Night matchup. |
None |
| Oct. 2, 2026 |
Merilainen stopped 10 of 11 shots in relief of Kevin Lankinen in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Oilers. - Merilainen did his part in the latter half of the game, almost allowing the Canucks to put together a comeback. Lankinen has struggled heavily to start the campaign, though it's tough to expect Merilainen to do any better behind a roster that will be outmatched most of the time. Both goalies should get a start this weekend since the Canucks will host the Flames on Saturday and the Golden Knights on Sunday. |
None |
| Sept. 25, 2026 |
Merilainen was claimed off waivers by Vancouver from Ottawa on Friday. - Merilainen had an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage in 20 regular-season appearances with Ottawa in 2025-26. While he clearly didn't have an ideal campaign, he's still just 24 years old and showed promise in 2024-25 with an 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage across 12 regular-season outings with the Senators. Thatcher Demko (hip) might not be ready for the start of the campaign, which presents Merilainen with an opportunity to compete with Kevin Lankinen for starts. The addition of Merilainen is also likely to result in Nikita Tolopilo beginning the upcoming campaign in the minors. Vancouver might also be more likely to decide against signing Chris Driedger, who has been attending the Canucks' training camp on a tryout basis. |
None |
| Sept. 24, 2026 |
Merilainen was put on waivers by Ottawa on Thursday, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. - Merilainen had an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage in 20 regular-season appearances with the Senators in 2025-26. Samuel Ersson signed a two-year, $4.4 million contract with the Senators over the summer, and he's expected to begin the season as the No. 2 goaltender behind Linus Ullmark. If either of Ersson or Ullmark suffers an injury during the campaign, then Merilainen might be summoned. |
None |
| Sept. 23, 2026 |
Merilainen will draw the start on the road in Wednesday's split-squad preseason game, per the NHL media site. - Merilainen will be backstopping what is largely a minor-league group on the road. Merilainen may start the 2026-27 campaign with AHL Belleville if he goes on waivers, as Linus Ullmark and Samuel Ersson are expected to be the NHL goaltending duo. |
None |
| July 2, 2026 |
Merilainen signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Senators on Thursday. - Merilainen had an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage in 20 regular-season appearances with Ottawa in 2025-26. While those results leave plenty to be desired, the 23-year-old has the potential to bounce back. However, he'll have to compete with Samuel Ersson during training camp to earn the No. 2 job behind Linus Ullmark. If the 23-year-old Merilainen doesn't do enough to win an NHL roster spot, then he'll return to the minors to continue to hone his game. |
None |
| April 17, 2026 |
Merilainen was called up by Ottawa on Friday. - Merilainen had an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage in 20 appearances with Ottawa during the 2025-26 regular season. He's joining Ottawa as the squad's No. 3 goaltender going into its first-round series against Carolina. Merilainen shouldn't be expected to man the net in a 2026 playoff game for the Senators unless Linus Ullmark and James Reimer run into injury problems. |
None |
| March 27, 2026 |
Merilainen posted a 26-save shutout in AHL Belleville's 5-0 win over Manitoba on Friday. - This was his second shutout of the AHL campaign. Merilainen is up to 8-7-1 with a 2.87 GAA and a .905 save percentage through 18 appearances. He's had a down year compared to 2024-25, which is why he's stayed in the AHL since he was sent down in January. |
None |
| Jan. 24, 2026 |
Merilainen posted a 40-save shutout in AHL Belleville's 1-0 win over Springfield on Saturday. - Merilainen improved to 4-1-0 this season in the AHL, with wins in each of the last two games since he returned to Belleville. This was his first shutout of the season, and he's allowed just 13 goals on 166 shots for a .927 save percentage with Belleville. That said, his chances to return to the NHL don't look great at this time, as the Senators are carrying three goalies and have Linus Ullmark (personal) on the non-roster list. |
None |
| Jan. 20, 2026 |
Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Tuesday. - Merilainen appeared in 11 straight games for the Senators coming out of the Christmas break, but now finds himself headed down to the minors. In those outings, the 23-year-old netminder went 4-5-1 with a 3.61 GAA, including giving up six goals on 19 shots versus Montreal on Saturday. Hunter Shepard was recalled from Belleville in a corresponding move and figures to serve as the No. 2 option behind James Reimer for Tuesday's tilt with Columbus. |
None |
| Jan. 18, 2026 |
Merilainen recorded saves on 13 of 19 shots on net in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Canadiens. - Merilainen allowed at least one goal in each period leading up to overtime, where he surrendered the winning tally to Montreal's Cole Caufield. With the OT loss, Merilainen now has an 8-10-1 record, a 3.51 GAA and an .860 save percentage across 20 appearances this season. He has appeared in each of Ottawa's last 11 games in the absence of Linus Ullmark (personal). With Ullmark back at practice, Merilainen could shift to a much lighter workload over the next few games, which will diminish his already risky fantasy value. His next chance to bounce back is Sunday in Detroit. |
None |
| Jan. 17, 2026 |
Merilainan will be between the home pipes versus Montreal on Saturday, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen has won two straight games despite allowing five goals on 42 shots. He has been mediocre since the start of December, posting a 5-7-0 record with a 3.35 GAA and an .864 save percentage. Merilainen will have a tough matchup as the Canadiens are fifth in league scoring, generating 3.33 goals per game in 2025-26. |
None |
| Jan. 14, 2026 |
Merilainen is slated to start on the road versus the Rangers on Wednesday, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports. - Merilainen will start back-to-back games, but James Reimer is set to back him up in this one after Hunter Shepard was reassigned to AHL Belleville earlier in the day. Merilainen stopped 19 of 20 shots in Tuesday's win over the Canucks, but he received an early hook the last time he started consecutive days, which was versus the Avalanche on Jan. 8. |
None |
| Jan. 13, 2026 |
Merilainen is drawing the home start against the Canucks on Tuesday, per Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. - Merilainen has seen workhorse usage since Linus Ullmark left the team for personal reasons. This will be the 23-year-old Merilainen's eighth consecutive start Tuesday -- he's 2-4-0 with a 3.56 GAA and an .853 save percentage over his last seven outings. The Finnish netminder should have a favorable matchup against a Vancouver club that lost in Montreal on Monday by a 6-3 score, while the Senators haven't played since Saturday. |
None |
| Jan. 11, 2026 |
Merilainen turned away 18 of 21 shots on net in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Panthers. - Merilainen struggled across the middle of Saturday's contest as he allowed three consecutive goals en route to the loss. Overall, he now has a 6-10-0 record with a 3.48 GAA and an 866 save percentage across 17 appearances this season. The 23-year-old goaltender has lost each of his last three outings amidst the Senators' four-game losing streak. With Linus Ullmark (personal) still away from the team, Merilainen should continue to see a decent chunk of starts, but remains a risky option in fantasy. |
None |
| Jan. 10, 2026 |
Merilainen is slated to defend the home crease versus Florida on Saturday, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen has struggled of late, as he has been pulled in two of his last three starting assignments. Merilainen is 6-9-0 with a 3.50 GAA and an .867 save percentage, a far cry from last season, when he was 8-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA. The Panthers are 19th in NHL scoring, generating 3.02 goals per game. |
None |
| Jan. 8, 2026 |
Merilainen is set to start on the road against Colorado on Thursday. - Merilainen has a 6-8-0 record, 3.46 GAA and .868 save percentage in 15 appearances this campaign. He has allowed at least three goals in four of his past five outings. Colorado leads the league in goals per game with 3.95. |
None |
| Jan. 7, 2026 |
Merilainen will guard the road goal versus the Mammoth on Wednesday, per the NHL media site. - Merilainen was pulled from his outing Monday versus the Red Wings after giving up three goals on nine shots. He's gone 2-2-0 with 14 goals allowed on 101 shots over his last five starts. This is the first half of a back-to-back that concludes Thursday in Colorado, but it's unclear who between Merilainen or Mads Sogaard will get the nod against the Avalanche. |
None |
| Jan. 6, 2026 |
Merilainen stopped five of the eight shots on net he saw in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Red Wings. - Merilainen struggled throughout the first period of Monday's contest, allowing three total goals, with one just 17 seconds away from the end of the period. He would ultimately be replaced by Hunter Shepard when the Senators came out for the second period. Merilainen now has a 6-7-0 record, a 3.49 GAA and an .869 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. After a strong rookie campaign, the second-year netminder has been inconsistent this year, making him and the rest of Ottawa's options in the crease tough to trust in fantasy. With Linus Ullmark (personal) on a leave of absence, Merilainen will likely continue to operate as the lead option unless he continues to struggle. |
None |
| Jan. 5, 2026 |
Merilainen will patrol the home crease Monday against the Red Wings, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. - Merilainen has won back-to-back outings against the Capitals and Jets following a two-game skid. The 23-year-old netminder owns a 6-7-0 record, 3.34 GAA and .875 save percentage through 13 outings in 2025-26. The Red Wings are 2-2-1 in their last five games, a stretch in which they have netted 11 goals. |
None |
| Jan. 4, 2026 |
Merilainen stopped 21 of 23 shots in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Jets. - Merilainen was beaten in the first and third periods, but the offense provided him enough support to cruise to an easy win. This was Merilainen's second straight victory, but even more importantly, he snapped a streak of seven outings in which he hadn't posted a save percentage of .900 or higher. Expect the 23-year-old to remain as the Senators' No. 1 goaltender as long as Linus Ullmark (personal) remains away from the team. |
None |
| Jan. 3, 2026 |
Merilainen was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports, indicating he will patrol the home crease against Winnipeg on Saturday. - Merilainen is coming off a 26-save performance in Thursday's 4-3 win over Washington. He has posted a 5-7-0 record with a 3.46 GAA and an .872 save percentage across 12 appearances this campaign. The struggling Jets rank 22nd in the league with 2.87 goals per game this season. |
None |
| Jan. 1, 2026 |
Merilainen will start Thursday's home game against the Capitals, Graeme Nichols of The Hockey News reports. - Merilainen has seen limited playing time in recent weeks, but he'll draw a second consecutive start for the first time this season during Thursday's matchup. Over his last seven appearances, he's gone 1-6-0 with a 3.49 GAA and .870 save percentage. |
None |
| Dec. 30, 2025 |
Merilainen turned aside 18 shots in Monday's 4-1 loss to Columbus. - The Senators' skaters gave Merilainen little help at either end of the ice, but the 23-year-old netminder also looked a little shaky on a pair of third-period tallies. Merilainen is in line to be Ottawa's top option between the pipes while Linus Ullmark (personal) is away from the team, but if he struggles, Hunter Shepard could cut into his workload. Through 11 NHL outings this season, Merilainen has a 4-7-0 record with a 3.51 GAA and .869 save percentage. |
None |
| Dec. 29, 2025 |
Merilainen will patrol the home crease against Columbus on Monday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. - Merilainen has gone 1-5-0 in his last six appearances while allowing 18 goals on 147 shots. He has a 4-6-0 record with a 3.43 GAA and an .874 save percentage through 10 outings this season. After being recalled from AHL Belleville on Monday, Hunter Shepard will be the backup goalie due to the absence of Linus Ullmark (personal). Columbus is tied for 20th in the league this year with 2.92 goals per game. |
None |
| Dec. 28, 2025 |
Merilainen made 10 saves in relief in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Maple Leafs. He allowed four goals. - The Sens faced an aggressive Toronto squad out to prove that the firing of assistant coach, Marc Savard was the antidote to that team's offensive malaise. Merilainen is 1-5-0 in his last six starts with 18 goals allowed. His future is brighter than his redraft value right now. |
None |
| Dec. 21, 2025 |
Merilainen made 20 saves in Saturday's 6-4 win over Chicago. - The 23-year-old netminder gave up three goals on 13 shots in the second period to level the game at 3-3, but Ottawa roared back with three of their own in the third. The win was Merilainen's first since Nov. 13, snapping a four-start losing streak, and on the season he's managed a 4-5-0 record in nine outings with a shaky 3.40 GAA and .872 save percentage. |
None |
| Dec. 20, 2025 |
Merilainen will get the starting nod at home versus Chicago on Saturday, Julian McKenzie of The Athletic reports. - Merilainen will try to snap a four-game losing streak against the Blackhawks, who are 5-10-3 in their last 17 games. Merilainen is 3-5-0 with a 3.22 GAA and an .877 save percentage over eight games this season. Chicago is tied with Vancouver for 25th in NHL scoring, averaging 2.76 goals per contest. |
None |
| Dec. 13, 2025 |
Merilainen will be between the visiting pipes in Minnesota on Saturday, according to Jackson Starr of the Senators' official site. - Merilainen will try to snap his three-game losing streak. He has sat on the bench in favor of Linus Ullmark for three straight games and will get his chance to redeem himself against the Wild, who will be missing newly acquired Quinn Hughes from their lineup. Merilainen is 3-4-0 with a 3.36 GAA and an .876 save percentage across seven games this season. The Wild are 24th in NHL scoring, averaging 2.81 goals per game. |
None |
| Dec. 5, 2025 |
Merilainen stopped 23 of 26 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Rangers, with New York's final tally getting scored into an empty net. - The 23-year-old netminder has seen his workload pick up of late as he's started three of the last six games for the Sens, but the results haven't been there as Merilainen's lost all three starts, giving up nine goals on 79 shots (3.13 GAA and .886 save percentage) during the skid, but those numbers are actually an improvement on his 3.36 GAA and .876 save percentage for the season. Ottawa seems intent on making sure that Linus Ullmark doesn't get overworked, but Merilainen isn't inspiring much confidence when he does find himself in the crease. |
None |
| Dec. 4, 2025 |
Merilainen was the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice, per TSN 1200 Ottawa, and is expected to start at home versus the Rangers on Thursday. - Merilainen is 3-3-0 with a 3.40 GAA and an .874 save percentage in six starts this season. The Rangers are 27th in scoring this season, scoring 2.64 goals per game, but they have been much stronger on the road, scoring 54 goals in 16 contests, tied with Dallas for the NHL lead. |
None |
| Nov. 29, 2025 |
Merilainen made 27 saves in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Blues. - Ottawa took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Merilainen couldn't make it stick as a Jordan Kyrou tally early in the final frame launched the home side toward a victory. Merilainen has lost two straight starts on the heels of a three-start win streak, leveling his record at 3-3-0 on the season with a 3.40 GAA and an .874 save percentage. |
None |
| Nov. 28, 2025 |
Merilainen is expected to start on the road against St. Louis on Friday, per Jackson Starr of the Senators' official site. - Merilainen has a 3-2-0 record, 3.24 GAA and .875 save percentage in five appearances this year. He stopped 20 of 22 shots in his last start Monday, but a lack of offensive support resulted in that being a 2-1 loss to the Kings. The Blues rank 28th in goals per game with 2.63. |
None |
| Nov. 25, 2025 |
Merilainen allowed two goals on 22 shots in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Kings. - Both goals allowed came in the third period, as Warren Foegele and Brandt Clarke (on the power play) were able to get pucks past Merilainen. The 23-year-old goalie took just his second loss of the season (3-2-0), but he's allowed only two goals in three of his five outings. He's maintained a 3.24 GAA and an .875 save percentage on the year, numbers skewed by the seven-goal mishap in his season debut versus the Sabres on Oct. 15. Merilainen won't get a lot of chances to play, as Linus Ullmark has done fairly well in a starting role this season. The Senators reach the midpoint of their current seven-game road trip when they visit the Golden Knights on Wednesday. |
None |
| Nov. 24, 2025 |
Merilainen will get the starting nod on the road versus Los Angeles on Monday, Senators on-air host Jackson Starr reports. - Merilainen is riding a three-game winning streak, during which he has allowed just seven goals on 80 shots for a .912 save pecentage. While his run of wins is impressive, it has come over the course of about four weeks, which means he still won't provide much fantasy value. The Senators don't have any upcoming back-to-backs, so it could be a while before Merilainen gets the net again. |
None |
| Nov. 14, 2025 |
Merilainen stopped 18 of 21 shots in Thursday's win over the Bruins. - Merilainen posted an .857 save percentage, and while that was a step in the wrong direction compared to his recent two outings, it was enough to earn the win thanks to the support provided by the offense. Merilainen has won each of his last five starts, going 3-0-0 with a 2.33 GAA and a .912 save percentage over that span. |
None |
| Nov. 13, 2025 |
Merilainen will occupy the home crease versus Boston on Thursday, according to TSN 1200 Ottawa. - Merilainen is 2-1-0 this season, allowing 11 goals on 85 shots. He was less than stellar in his first game of the season, giving up seven goals on 26 shots, but he has turned things around in his last two starts, winning both while allowing four goals on 59 shots over those games. The Bruins have won seven straight games and are sixth in NHL scoring, generating 3.39 goals per game. |
None |
| Nov. 9, 2025 |
Merilainen will get the start against the Mammoth on Sunday, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports. - Merilainen is back in the NHL for a second stint after briefly being sent down. The 23-year-old earned his way back up after a strong start and now will have another chance to make a mark in an NHL crease. At the NHL level, he is 1-1-0 with a 4.58 GAA and an .833 save percentage. He faces a tough task in the Mammoth, who are averaging 3.27 goals per game this season. |
None |
| Nov. 2, 2025 |
Merilainen has been recalled to the NHL by the Senators, the team announced Sunday. - Merilainen began the season in the NHL with very mixed results, and he was sent down to AHL Belleville. Following his second consecutive victory for Belleville, the 23-year-old is back up with Ottawa again; Hunter Shepard is moving down in the corresponding move. Merilainen will assume backup goaltender duties behind Linus Ullmark once again. |
None |
| Nov. 1, 2025 |
Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Saturday. - Merilainen has played only twice this season, allowing nine goals on 54 shots (.833 save percentage). The move will give him some playing time at the AHL level and he should be recalled in the near future. The Senators recalled Hunter Shepard to back up Linus Ullmark, in a corresponding move. |
None |
| Oct. 28, 2025 |
Merilainen stopped 26 of 28 shots in Monday's 7-2 win over the Bruins. - Merilainen was beaten at 3:06 of the first period, and then he was bested again with 10 seconds left in the final frame. However, Ottawa scored seven unanswered goals in between, meaning the 23-year-old was able to clinch his first win of the season. Merilainen is firmly entrenched as the backup behind Linus Ullmark, however, so he's not expected to carry a ton of fantasy upside any time soon. His value will probably be matchup-based until further notice. |
None |
| Oct. 27, 2025 |
Merilainen is expected to patrol the home crease against Boston on Monday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. - Merilainen surrendered seven goals on 26 shots in an 8-4 blowout loss to Buffalo on Oct. 15 before heading to the minors for a brief stint. He made 23 saves in a 6-5 shootout win over Boston on Jan. 18 last season. The Bruins rank 15th in the league with 3.20 goals per game this campaign. |
None |
| Oct. 23, 2025 |
Merilainen was called up from AHL Belleville on Thursday. - Merilainen was sent down Sunday and picked up the start in goal Wednesday, turning aside 26 shots in a 6-2 win over Laval. Merilainen was outstanding last season in limited action for Ottawa, posting an 8-3-1 record with three shutouts, a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage across 12 appearances. Merilainen got off to a horrible start this season, giving up seven goals on 26 shots in his lone start, prompting the Senators to banish him to the minors for one contest. Ottawa sent Mads Sogaard to Belleville in a corresponding move. |
None |
| Oct. 19, 2025 |
Merilainen has been loaned back to AHL Belleville, the Senators announced Sunday. - Merilainen has been the number two goaltender this season behind Linus Ullmark, but the one start he got didn't go so well; he allowed seven goals to a previously struggling Sabres offense in an 8-4 loss. As a result, the 23-year-old is being subbed out for Mads Sogaard from the AHL, where Merilainen is headed in order to regain confidence and get more consistent playing time. |
None |
| Oct. 16, 2025 |
Merilainen stopped 19 of 26 shots in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Sabres. Buffalo's final goal was scored into an empty net. - The Senators actually held a brief 2-1 lead early in the second period, but Merilainen couldn't hold back the tide as the Sabres finished the night with three power-play goals, plus a shorthanded tally. It was a rough season debut for the 23-year-old netminder, but Ottawa is counting on Merilainen to show that his impressive 2024-25 numbers (1.99 GAA, .925 save percentage in 12 appearances) were no fluke as he handles No. 2 duties behind Linus Ullmark. |
None |
| Oct. 15, 2025 |
Merilainen will draw the road start against Buffalo on Wednesday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports. - Linus Ullmark started in each of the Senators' first three games of the season, but Merilainen will make his season debut Wednesday after Ullmark was charged with losses in his last two outings. Merilainen made 12 appearances for Ottawa last year, going 8-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage. |
None |
| Oct. 2, 2025 |
Merilainen will defend the road crease during Thursday's preseason game against the Blues, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen is slated to play the full game in what will likely be his final tune-up ahead of the regular season. Once the 2025-26 campaign begins, Merilainen is expected to serve as Linus Ullmark's backup. |
None |
| Sept. 30, 2025 |
Merilainen will patrol the home crease against Montreal on Tuesday. - The 23-year-old netminder posted a record of 8-3-1 with three shutouts, a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 12 regular-season appearances with Ottawa in 2024-25. Merilainen will enter the 2025-26 campaign as Linus Ullmark's backup. |
None |
| Sept. 23, 2025 |
Merilainen will defend the road cage versus the Leafs in Tuesday's preseason matchup, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen is expected to face a fairly heavy NHL lineup from Toronto on Tuesday. While Linus Ullmark is cemented as the No. 1 in Ottawa this year, the 23-year-old Merilainen should be able to secure the backup job and play in upward of 30 regular-season games this year. In his 12 outings last season, the Finn posted an impressive 8-3-1 record to go with a 1.99 GAA and three shutouts. |
None |
| June 30, 2025 |
Merilainen signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with Ottawa on Monday. - Merilainen posted a record of 8-3-1 with three shutouts, a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 12 regular-season appearances with Ottawa in 2024-25. With Anton Forsberg poised to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent, Merilainen could begin the 2025-26 campaign as Linus Ullmark's backup. |
None |
| April 19, 2025 |
Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Saturday. - Merilainen will be the Senators' third goaltender in the playoffs, behind Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg. Merilainen was outstanding when called upon by Ottawa, going 8-3-1 with three shutouts, a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage across 12 NHL appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. |
None |
| March 12, 2025 |
Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Wednesday. - Merilainen, who was recalled Tuesday, didn't end up playing in Ottawa's 5-2 victory over Philadelphia. Anton Forsberg got the nod, stopping 20 of 22 shots, but Merilainen did dress as the backup instead of Linus Ullmark. The 31-year-old Ullmark made 48 saves in a victory over Detroit on Monday, so presumably, Ottawa wanted to give him a breather, which seems to be why Merilainen was briefly on the NHL roster. |
None |
| March 11, 2025 |
Merilainen was summoned from AHL Belleville on Tuesday, per Steve Lloyd of TSN 1200 Ottawa. - Prior to being recalled, Merilainen had been in the minors since Feb. 2. The Finnish netminder has been efficient over 12 appearances with the Sens this season, recording an 8-3-1 record, .925 save percentage and 1.99 GAA. Anton Forsberg will start Tuesday against the Flyers, though his 8-10-1 record, .895 save percentage and 2.82 GAA could open the door for Merilainen to earn a role in the crease behind Linus Ullmark going forward. |
None |
| Feb. 25, 2025 |
Merilainen was placed in the AHL's concussion protocol Monday, Steve Lloyd of TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen reportedly told head coach David Bell that he was fine, so it's unclear if he will be an option to face AHL Manitoba on Wednesday. While the netminder's injury won't immediately impact the Senators, it could be an issue if Linus Ullmark or Anton Forsberg gets hurt in the short term. |
None |
| Feb. 2, 2025 |
Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Sunday. - Merilainen has been outstanding for Ottawa, posting an 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage across 12 outings this season. He earned a 16-save shutout victory over Minnesota on Saturday. However, Linus Ullmark (back) is off injured reserve, so Merilainen was sent to the minors to make room. Anton Forsberg is set to serve as Ullmark's understudy. |
None |
| Feb. 1, 2025 |
Merilainen will patrol the home crease versus Minnesota on Saturday, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports. - Merilainen was outstanding Sunday, stopping 34 of 35 shots in a 3-1 win over Utah. The victory gave Merilainen a 7-3-1 record to go with a 2.19 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The Wild are averaging 2.94 goals per game, 16th in the NHL. |
None |
| Jan. 27, 2025 |
Merilainen stopped 34 of 35 shots in Sunday's 3-1 win over Utah. - Merilainen allowed a second-period goal to Clayton Keller, one of the hottest players in the NHL over the last two weeks, but he was excellent the rest of the way. The 22-year-old has won five of his last seven starts, going 5-1-1 with a 1.69 GAA and a .940 save percentage over that span. He's expected to remain the top option between the pipes for Ottawa as long as Linus Ullmark (back) remains out. |
None |
| Jan. 26, 2025 |
Merilainen will protect the home net against Utah on Sunday, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen will get the second half of Ottawa's back-to-back after Anton Forsberg played in Saturday's 2-1 win over Toronto. The 22-year-old Merilainen has a 6-3-1 record with two shutouts, a 2.32 GAA and a .914 save percentage through 10 NHL appearances this season. Utah sits 21st in the league with 2.88 goals per game in 2024-25. |
None |
| Jan. 22, 2025 |
Merilainen stopped 14 of 16 shots before being pulled in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Rangers. - Merilainen allowed two goals on 16 shots before he was replaced by Anton Forsberg at the 4:59 mark of the second period. This was Merilainen's first loss in regulation since Jan. 2, when he gave up four goals in a 4-2 loss to the Stars. The 22-year-old netminder has done a good job as the Senators' first-choice goaltender in recent weeks. He's gone 4-2-1 with a 2.17 GAA and a .920 save percentage across seven appearances in January, although it's worth noting that he owns the No. 1 role since Linus Ullmark remains sidelined with a back injury. |
None |
| Jan. 21, 2025 |
Merilainen will defend the road cage Tuesday versus the Rangers, according to TSN 1200 Ottawa. - Merilainen had his worst outing of the season Saturday, conceding five goals on 28 shots, but he still came out with a win in a high-scoring affair against Boston. The Finnish netminder has only lost twice in regulation through nine outings in 2024-25, turning in two shutouts over those appearances. The Rangers are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to Montreal on Sunday. |
None |
| Jan. 19, 2025 |
Merilainen turned aside 23 shots in regulation and overtime and all three shootout attempts he faced in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Bruins. - The Senators out-shot the visitors 44-28, but Merilainen allowed a career-high five goals and needed some late heroics from Josh Norris at the end of the third period just to force OT. The 22-year-old netminder redeemed himself in extra time however, denying Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha in the shootout to secure the victory. Merilainen's time in the NHL could be coming to an end for now with Linus Ullmark (back) close to coming off IR, but he's firmly established himself as Ottawa's goalie of the future with his recent performances. Through nine NHL appearances this season, Merilainen has gone 6-2-1 with a 2.20 GAA and .917 save percentage, and with Anton Forsberg a free agent next offseason, it's possible the team will ship the veteran out and keep Merilainen around instead. |
None |
| Jan. 18, 2025 |
Merilainen is expected to start at home against Boston on Saturday, according to TSN 1200 Ottawa. - It will be Merilainen's fifth straight start, and it's not hard to see why Ottawa keeps going back to him. He's posted a 3-0-1 record, 0.74 GAA and .971 save percentage over that stretch, which gives him a 5-2-1 record with a 1.84 GAA and a .930 save percentage in eight outings this season. If Merilainen keeps playing like this, he might stick with the NHL squad even after Linus Ullmark (back) returns. The Bruins rank 26th in goals per game with 2.65. |
None |
| Jan. 16, 2025 |
Merilainen will tend the twine for Thursday's home matchup with Washington, Graeme Nichols of The Hockey News reports. - Merilainen will make his fourth consecutive start after posting an impressive 3-0-0 record, 0.67 GAA and two shutouts in his previous three tilts. With the 22-year-old backstop going Thursday, the team could decide to give Anton Forsberg the first game of a back-to-back against the Bruins on Saturday while saving Merilainen to face New Jersey on Sunday. Either way, Merilainen should continue to see plenty of starts moving forward given his strong level of play. |
None |
| Jan. 15, 2025 |
Merilainen made 24 saves in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Islanders. - All of a sudden, the 22-year-old rookie might be the hottest goalie in the NHL. Merilainen has started three straight games and won all three, with two of those outings producing his first two career shutouts. In seven outings since he was called up in mid-December, he's gone 5-2-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .925 save percentage, and the Senators appear willing to give him a shot at taking the No. 1 job away from Anton Forsberg. There's no timeline yet for Linus Ullmark (back) to make his return from IR, but the Sens could have a dilemma on their hands when he does -- or an opportunity to trade one of their veteran netminders -- if Merilainen is still surging. |
None |
| Jan. 14, 2025 |
Merilainen will defend the road cage Tuesday versus the Islanders, according to TSN 1200 Ottawa. - After conceding four goals in a loss to Dallas in his first start in January, Merilainen has won back-to-back games, including a 29-save shutout over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Islanders are tied for 26th in the league with 2.67 goals per game, but they've played better recently, having gone 3-0-0 on their most recent road trip. |
None |
| Jan. 12, 2025 |
Merilainen made 29 saves in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Penguins. - Ottawa scored three times in the first period, so the only real suspense in the game came from whether Merilainen would be able to secure his first NHL shutout. The 22-year-old has played well overall since making his season debut in late December, going 3-2-0 in five outings with a 2.42 GAA and .911 save percentage. With Linus Ullmark (back) still lacking a timeline for his return, Merilainen should continue splitting the workload in the crease with Anton Forsberg for the Senators. |
None |
| Jan. 11, 2025 |
Merilainen will guard the road goal versus the Penguins on Saturday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. - Merilainen has allowed 11 goals on 95 shots en route to a 2-2-0 record in four NHL appearances this season. He surrendered four goals on 25 shots to Dallas on Jan. 2 in a 4-2 loss during his last outing. Pittsburgh ranks 14th in the league with 3.07 goals per game in 2024-25. |
None |
| Jan. 2, 2025 |
Merilainen will tend the twine for Thursday's road game against Dallas, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - Merilainen has been inconsistent over his last few appearances, going 2-1-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .900 save percentage across his last three outings. Although he'll draw the start for the third time in the Senators' last five games, head coach Travis Green said that Anton Forsberg (lower body) will dress as the backup for Thursday's matchup, so Merilainen's opportunities will likely decrease soon. |
None |
| Dec. 30, 2024 |
Merilainen stopped 30 of 31 shots in Sunday's 3-1 win over Minnesota. - Merilainen has made three appearances this season and has posted a solid 2-1-0 record while giving up two of fewer goals in two of those outings. His save percentage isn't very high since he posted a figure below the .860 mark in his first two outings, though, so the sample is too small to assess what he might bring to the table. However, this was certainly an improved effort compared to his previous two outings. Merilainen figures to be in the NHL until at least one of Linus Ullmark (upper body) or Anton Forsberg (lower body) is able to return to action. |
None |
| Dec. 29, 2024 |
Merilainen is set to start on the road against Minnesota on Sunday, per TSN 1200 Ottawa. - Merilainen stopped 12 of 14 shots in 36:39 of ice time last Sunday and was charged for the loss in the 3-1 defeat to Edmonton. He also has turned aside 21 of 25 shots in a 5-4 overtime victory over Vancouver this campaign. The Wild have an impressive 22-10-4 record, though they are middling in terms of goals per game, tying for 20th with 2.94. |
None |
| Dec. 27, 2024 |
Merilainen was called up from AHL Belleville on Friday. - Merilainen has started the last two games, as Linus Ullmark (back) and Anton Forsberg (undisclosed) have both been out of action. Merilainen is 1-1-0 this season, allowing six goals on 39 shots. He could get another start in Winnipeg on Saturday if Ullmark and Forsberg are both unable to go. |
None |
| Dec. 23, 2024 |
Merilainen was loaned to AHL Belleville on Monday. - Merilainen entered Sunday's game against the Oilers at the start of the second period after Linus Ullmark (upper body) exited the matchup. Merilainen took the loss in the relief appearance and will head to the minors ahead of the NHL's Christmas break, which could signal that Ullmark or Anton Forsberg (undisclosed) could return to action following the layoff. |
None |
| Dec. 22, 2024 |
Merilainen stopped 12 of 14 shots in relief of Linus Ullmark (upper body) in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Oilers. - The Senators tied the game at 1-1 early in the second period, but Merilainen gave up goals to Zach Hyman and Adam Henrique en route to taking the loss in his relief appearance. With due respect to the 22-year-old Merilainen, Ullmark's injury has put the Senators' goaltending depth in a worst-case scenario -- Anton Forsberg (undisclosed) is also out, and the team is on its longest road trip of the season. Merilianen has given up six goals on 39 shots across his two appearances. If both Ullmark and Forsberg are unavailable when the Senators' schedule resumes Saturday in Winnipeg, Merilainen would temporarily take over as the No. 1 goalie, and Mads Sogaard would likely rise to the NHL to fill the backup role. |
None |
| Dec. 21, 2024 |
Merilainen will guard the road net Saturday against the Canucks, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. - 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. |
None |
| Dec. 15, 2024 |
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. |
None |
| Oct. 25, 2024 |
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. Merilaninen was 2-1-0 with a 3.47 GAA and an .852 save percentage with Belleville this season, before his recall. |
None |
| Oct. 22, 2024 |
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. |
None |
| Sept. 29, 2024 |
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. 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. |
None |
| Sept. 24, 2024 |
Merilainen has not participated in training camp yet due to a groin injury that occurred during rookie camp, per TSN 1200 Ottawa. - 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. |
None |
| Sept. 19, 2024 |
Merilainen is dealing with a groin injury that isn't expected to be serious, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports. - 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. |
None |
| March 2, 2024 |
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. |
None |
| April 7, 2023 |
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. |
None |
| April 6, 2023 |
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. |
None |
| April 5, 2023 |
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. |
None |
| April 4, 2023 |
Merilainen was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports, indicating he will start in Carolina on Tuesday. - 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. |
None |
