Leevi Merilainen News

Leevi Merilainen has struggled in recent games, but he will return to the crease for a third straight outing, an unfortunate testament to his counterpart, Kevin Lankinen's abysmal play. The 24-year-old Merilainen remains the preferred choice in Vancouver's crease, despite allowing 14 goals on 100 shots (.860 SV%) in his past three games (1-2-0). Merilainen has a 3.35 GAA and a .900 SV% in nine appearances this season (2-3-1). The Canucks enter Thursday's outing as +148 road underdogs against a San Jose Sharks team coming off a 2-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Leevi Merilainen has struggled in recent games, but he will return to the crease for a third straight outing, an unfortunate testament to his counterpart, Kevin Lankinen's abysmal play. The 24-year-old Merilainen remains the preferred choice in Vancouver's crease, despite allowing 14 goals on 100 shots (.860 SV%) in his past three games (1-2-0). Merilainen has a 3.35 GAA and a .900 SV% in nine appearances this season (2-3-1). The Canucks enter Thursday's outing as +148 road underdogs against a San Jose Sharks team coming off a 2-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Kevin Lankinen has started the 2025-26 season abysmal, posting a dreadful 6.40 GAA and .807 SV% in seven outings (1-6-0). As a result, the Canucks have increasingly turned to Merilainen, who has been the more reliable goalie. The 24-year-old Merilainen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923 SV%), but came up short in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. In six appearances this season (1-1-1), Merilainen has a solid 2.51 GAA and .925 SV%. Still, the Canucks enter Tuesday's matchup as significant +253 home underdogs against the 7-2-1 Carolina Hurricanes.

Kevin Lankinen has started the 2025-26 season abysmal, posting a dreadful 6.40 GAA and .807 SV% in seven outings (1-6-0). As a result, the Canucks have increasingly turned to Merilainen, who has been the more reliable goalie. The 24-year-old Merilainen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923 SV%), but came up short in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. In six appearances this season (1-1-1), Merilainen has a solid 2.51 GAA and .925 SV%. Still, the Canucks enter Tuesday's matchup as significant +253 home underdogs against the 7-2-1 Carolina Hurricanes.

Kevin Lankinen has started the 2025-26 season abysmal, posting a dreadful 6.88 GAA and .786 SV% in six outings (1-5-0). As a result, the Canucks will roll with Merilainen, who has been their more reliable goalie. Merilainen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%), but he didn't get enough goal support and lost 3-2 to the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (1-1-0). Still, the Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +252 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team coming off an impressive 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kevin Lankinen has started the 2025-26 season abysmal, posting a dreadful 6.88 GAA and .786 SV% in six outings (1-5-0). As a result, the Canucks will roll with Merilainen, who has been their more reliable goalie. Merilainen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%), but he didn't get enough goal support and lost 3-2 to the New York Islanders. The 24-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.40 GAA and .926 SV% in five appearances (1-1-0). Still, the Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +252 road underdogs against a Florida Panthers team coming off an impressive 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Canucks are allowing an alarming league-worst 5.0 goals per game through seven games this season (2-5-0). That said, Merilainen has been serviceable when called upon, greatly outdueling counterpart Kevin Lankinen. The 24-year-old Merilainen saved 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a 2.18 GAA and .929 SV% in four appearances this season (2-1-0). The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as significant +191 road underdogs against a New York Islanders team coming off a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Canucks are allowing an alarming league-worst 5.0 goals per game through seven games this season (2-5-0). That said, Merilainen has been serviceable when called upon, greatly outdueling counterpart Kevin Lankinen. The 24-year-old Merilainen saved 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a 2.18 GAA and .929 SV% in four appearances this season (2-1-0). The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as significant +191 road underdogs against a New York Islanders team coming off a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Merilainen faces some heavy competition for playing time in Ottawa this season as the team heads into 2026-27 with Linus Ullmark and Sam Ersson both under contract and ahead of him on the depth chart. The 23-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick of the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, struggled in limited NHL action last season, posting a 3.51 GAA and .860 SV5 in 20 appearances (8-10-1).

Merilainen has played well in the AHL as of late and figures to serve as Ottawa's third goalie throughout the postseason. Merilainen has gone 8-8-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .909 SV% in 19 AHL games, bu struggled with Ottawa, posting an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 SV% in 20 games.

James Reimer was serviceable in his Ottawa debut on Sunday, evidently giving the team enough trust in him to send Merilainen down to Belleville (AHL). The 23-year-old Merilainen has had a terrible season in Ottawa, which has been even worse since Linus Ullmark (personal) has been away from the team, posting a dreadful 3.27 GAA and .843 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1).