Leevi Meriläinen got quick command in Ottawa’s goal.
The Ottawa Senators took a 5-4 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks in the hockey NHL. Jake Sanderson passed the Canucks’ Finnish guard Kevin Lankinenwhen only 15 seconds had elapsed in overtime.
At the other end of the trough, Ottawa played between the posts Leevi Meriläinenfor whom the match was the first of the season in the hockey NHL. Meriläinen had two NHL games under his belt in the second season.
– Great thoughts about the game when I got my first win in the NHL. That’s what I came for, and it came the hard way. I’m really happy and satisfied that the guys took care of it for me, Meriläinen told STT after the fight stopped.
Meriläinen blocked 21 shots in the match. Earlier this week, Kärppien’s grown-up received an invitation from the AHL team Belleville Senators to Ottawa, when the team’s second goalkeeper Anton Forsberg was injured. The 22-year-old from Oulu revealed that there had been talk of playing in Vancouver before, but the final confirmation came on Friday.
– In the evening I got a call that I was going to play, Meriläinen said.
In Belleville’s shirt, Meriläinen has played 13 matches this season. The season started with a minor injury, but Meriläinen describes the first months as basically positive.
– When I recovered from the injury, I immediately got into the rhythm and the games. The game started to flow, and I was rewarded with entry into the NHL for a short time. I’m really pleased that I got to experience what this is like.
By default, Ottawa’s number one goalie is Linus Ullmarkand Meriläinen will probably be sent back to the AHL when the injured Anton Forsberg has recovered.