2025 Stats
W
4
L
6
SO
0
GAA
3.43
SV%
.874
ROS Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Merilainen may be ready to ascend to the NHL as a full-time backup. In limited action last season, he posted an 8-3-1 record with a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 12 games, filling in as a short-term starter for much of January while Linus Ullmark dealt with a back injury. Merilainen is just entering his age-23 season, and that means he's still got time to develop. Those numbers, combined with his 18-12-4 record, 2.37 GAA and .913 save percentage over 37 games with AHL Belleville, indicate that Merilainen can handle 25-30 games at the NHL level. It's no guarantee he'll start 2025-26 in Ottawa, but he'll be in the mix for the backup job in training camp. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Senators in June of 2025.
Facing Blue Jackets
Merilainen will patrol the home crease against Columbus on Monday, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.
ANALYSIS
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.
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.
NHL Stats
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025–26 Time On Ice Stats
- Average Time On Ice: 56:01
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
Merilainen made his NHL debut late in the 2022-23 campaign, but he didn't make any appearances for the Senators last year despite a brief stint with Ottawa. He made a career-high 24 regular-season appearances for AHL Belleville last year and had mixed results, going 10-9-1 with a 2.87 GAA and .906 save percentage. The Senators traded Joonas Korpisalo to the Bruins over the summer but received Linus Ullmark in return, so Ullmark and Anton Forsberg should enter the 2024-25 season as the team's top two netminders. Despite Merilainen's inconsistency in the minors last season, he could be called up by the Senators if Ullmark or Forsberg deal with injuries at some point.
More Fantasy News
Appears in relief
Merilainen made 10 saves in relief in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Maple Leafs. He allowed four goals.
ANALYSIS
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Hangs on for fourth win
Merilainen made 20 saves in Saturday's 6-4 win over Chicago.
ANALYSIS
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Facing Blackhawks
Merilainen will get the starting nod at home versus Chicago on Saturday, Julian McKenzie of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Can't tame Wild on Saturday
Merilainen made 22 saves in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
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Facing Wild
Merilainen will be between the visiting pipes in Minnesota on Saturday, according to Jackson Starr of the Senators' official site.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might be summoned
The Senators are considering recalling Merilainen from AHL Belleville, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Neither Linus Ullmark nor Anton Forsberg is dealing with a known injury, but Ottawa has secured its playoff berth, so adding Merilainen to the roster would enable the Senators to occasionally make Ullmark a healthy scratch so that he's rested for the postseason. It would also give the 22-year-old Merilainen, who has an 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage in 12 appearances with Ottawa this campaign, some added NHL experience.
Neither Linus Ullmark nor Anton Forsberg is dealing with a known injury, but Ottawa has secured its playoff berth, so adding Merilainen to the roster would enable the Senators to occasionally make Ullmark a healthy scratch so that he's rested for the postseason. It would also give the 22-year-old Merilainen, who has an 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .925 save percentage in 12 appearances with Ottawa this campaign, some added NHL experience.