Sens' Merilainen focused after back-to-back wins: 'This is my job'
Ottawa Senators' rookie goalie Leevi Merilainen was all business after picking up two wins in as many days.
"Just work," he said Sunday when asked what his past 28 hours have been like, according to Everyday Sens. "It's my work. This is my job. I have to do this, so just happy to be here."
Merilainen helped the Senators stymie the Penguins with a 29-save shutout Saturday in Pittsburgh, and he was between the pipes against the red-hot Dallas Stars a day later in Ottawa.
The 22-year-old was solid against the Western Conference foes, turning aside 24 of 26 shots en route to a 3-2 victory that snapped the Stars' seven-game winning streak.
Merilainen said he learned he was also starting the second of back-to-back games on the plane ride back from Pittsburgh, but he wasn't rattled by the news.
"Of course you feel it in the body, but I'm used to this," he said of his recent workload. "I did this a lot in Europe. Not too different."
Merilainen now owns a .913 save percentage, 2.34 goals against average, and 4-2-0 record since being called up in mid-December to fill in for the then-injured Anton Forsberg. However, the Finn's role on the team only grew after usual starter Linus Ullmark suffered a back injury Dec. 22.
Sunday's showing against the Stars was Merilainen's first appearance at the Canadian Tire Centre.
"Well of course the fans were on our side, so that was fun," he said when asked if playing on home ice felt any different to him.
Senators fans also gave him a rousing cheer when he was announced as the starting netminder, which didn't go unnoticed by Merilainen.
"That was special," he said. "That was super fun."
Just like the fans, Ottawa forward Tim Stutzle has been impressed by Merilainen's performance so far.
"(He's) really calm," he said. "Gives us confidence when he's back there. Obviously made some huge saves against Pittsburgh, too, some huge saves where he didn't see the puck. He's been playing great for us, so it's awesome, and I'm happy for him."
Merilainen made his NHL debut with a two-game showing in April 2023, but he didn't see any action last season. He recorded his first big-league win Dec. 21 against the Vancouver Canucks.
Senators general manager Steve Staios addressed the media before Sunday's game and announced that Ullmark is expected to return sooner rather than later, but he still doesn't have a set timeline, per Sportsnet. The executive added that he's comfortable with their goaltending depth and doesn't feel the need to make an addition.
Ottawa will take on the New York Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.