Merilainen will guard the road net Saturday against the Canucks, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Merilainen was sent down to AHL Belleville on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Merilainen was recalled Tuesday to back up Anton Forsberg as Linus Ullmark (strain) was unable to play. Merilainen was 2-1-0 with a 3.47 GAA and an .852 save percentage with Belleville this season before being recalled.

Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Tuesday to serve as the backup against Utah, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Merilainen (groin) will be in the lineup for Sunday's preseason contest against Pittsburgh.

EDGE Analysis

Merilainen had been unable to practice for most of training camp after injuring his groin during Ottawa's rookie camp, but 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.

Merilainen has not participated in training camp yet due to a groin injury that occurred during rookie camp, per TSN 1200 Ottawa.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Merilainen is dealing with a groin injury that isn't expected to be serious, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Merilainen was called up as the backup due to the Senators' top two goalies being out Saturday. The 21-year-old will probably not be called back up if Joonas Korpisalo (illness) heads west on the team's road trip.

Merilainen was recalled from AHL Belleville on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Merilainen was sent to AHL Belleville on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Merilainen was pulled Thursday after giving up three goals on 12 shots in a 7-2 loss to the Panthers. He was 0-1-1, giving up six goals on 49 shots in his two NHL games. The 20-year-old has a bright future, but he needs more experience, which he will get at the AHL level.