VANCOUVER — Senators goalie Leevi Merilainen was to get his first begin of the season and third of his NHL profession when Ottawa visited the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
“I am truly excited for him. Excited see him within the web,” head coach Travis Inexperienced stated after morning skate. “He is gonna give us an important sport.”
Merilainen replaces star goalie Linus Ullmark, who had backstopped the Sens (17-13-2) to 5 straight wins.
Ullmark boasts a 12-7-2 report with a 2.37 goals-against common, a .916 save proportion and three shutouts this season.
“He is had a heavy workload. Received back-to-back video games (final week),” Inexperienced stated.
Merilainen was recalled Dec. 15 from the American Hockey League’s Bellville Senators a day after Ottawa backup Anton Forsberg was injured throughout a pre-game skate earlier than going through the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Merilainen, 22, was 7-2-3 with Bellville with a 2.43 goals-against common and .901 save proportion this season.
The six-foot-three, 186-pound Finnish netminder’s final NHL begin was April 6, 2023, in a 7-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Inexperienced stated his workforce will not change the way it performs in entrance of the younger goalie.
“We have talked loads about checking our play away from the puck, taking part in quick,” the coach stated. “However as a result of Leevi (is) in web, that does not change in any respect.”
