Debuted with Kärppie’s goal in the Ice Hockey Championship this season and played 42 matches Leevi Meriläinen also made a strong debut in the North American Hockey League NHL. Meriläinen blocked 34 shots when Ottawa, represented by the youngster, experienced a 2-3 overtime loss to Carolina in the away bowl.
– It feels great. I probably never would have thought that I would get this opportunity. It was a great feeling when I was told that I would play, Meriläinen told Urheilu his feelings after the match.
Carolina started the match strongly, as the team poured shots towards the goal guarded by Meriläinen from the very first moments. It didn’t take long for Suomalaisvahti’s first setback, because Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored the opening goal of the match just after a couple of minutes of play.
However, this did not faze the Finnish goalkeeper. With its saves, Meriläinen kept Ottawa in the fight for victory throughout the match. The 20-year-old said that his confidence increased as the match progressed.
– It grew all the time when I got a lot of the puck and was able to forget the rest of the outside.
The goalkeeper revealed that the feeling before the match did not really differ from previous experiences, for example with the Finnish junior national team.
– It wasn’t terribly exciting more than, for example, in the national team games, where big issues were played. It’s always a little bit exciting, but when the puck drops onto the ice, it’s forgotten, the goalkeeper once said in a calm style.
Playing is different from the home league
Carolina led the match at the beginning of the final set 2–1, but Ottawa fought back Braden Tkachuk on the finish line. In the end, the home team decided the match that went into overtime Martin Necas at the end of extra time.
– The game went quite well for me, but the loss hurts. Even though I wasn’t terribly happy in the booth, everyone came to congratulate me on a good game, Meriläinen recounted the praise he received from his teammates.
The defender, who played his first SC league matches last fall, admitted that he is now living his dream.
– I almost never would have been able to even dream of such big things. Sometimes when I was little, I dreamed of being able to play in Kärpi.
Meriläinen recently praised the speed of the game in the NHL. According to him, the passing is solid and the puck is put into the goal diligently.
– There are really fast games. When the puck is hit on the goal, there is a lot of mask, there are guides and loose pucks. They are a bit more challenging situations that you might not see in the SM league, the goalkeeper compared the NHL experience to playing in his home league.
The Ottawa team has even been fighting for a playoff spot this season, but three consecutive losses threaten to dampen dreams of continuing the season after the regular season. The head coach from the Carolina loss DJ Smith found a lot of good things, especially in Meriläinen’s excerpts.
– He made big saves and looked really calm. He is years ahead of his age, Smith praised the Finn after the match.
The coach had given Meriläinen a simple instruction before the match: enjoy. According to his own words, Meriläinen also managed to enjoy himself.
– Of course, it was great to play, Meriläinen confirmed to .
He still didn’t know how the season would continue from here. The guard from Oulu does not start predicting the future.
– I really don’t like to think things ahead. I’ll go day by day and see what comes up.
In the most recent episode of the Ikan änäri podcast, the goalie was talked about, among other things Pekka Rinne about the importance to the Nashville Predators, Finnish goaltenders and things outside of hockey as well.
Husso saved the shutout in Montreal
The Florida Panthers beat the Buffalo Sabers 2-1 at home. of Buffalo Dylan Cozens scored the opening goal before midway through the first period, but Florida tied the game later in the period. Aleksander Barkov collected an assist By Aaron Ekblad to the equalizing goal.
Florida’s winning goal was scored Matthew Tkachuk. About the Finns of Florida Anton Lundell recorded a hit assist. Florida continues to fight for a playoff spot with four games remaining. The Panthers are seventh in the Eastern Conference.
On the Canadian side, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5–0. Detroit’s goal Ville Husso played a clean sheet and made 24 saves. Detroit swung the net steadily throughout the sets. Finnish defender Olli Määttä collected two assists in the contest. The expert defensive player, who played strongly throughout the year, improved his points balance for the season to 6+17.
of Colorado Mikko Rantanen had two assists as the team defeated the San Jose Sharks in overtime 4–3. Colorado’s winning goal was scored Nathan MacKinnonafter more than three minutes of extra time had been played.
The two points brought by the victory secured Colorado a place in the playoffs.
Rantanen has scored 49 goals this season. With 50 goals, he would become the first Finnish player of the 2000s to reach that number of goals in the same season in the NHL. Only Finns have managed to score 50 goals in one season Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne.
NHL results
Florida–Buffalo 2–1 (1–1, 0–0, 1–0)
F: Aleksander Barkov 0+1, Anton Lundell 0+1.
Toronto–Columbus 4–2 (1–1, 1–0, 2–1)
Montreal–Detroit 0–5 (0–2, 0–2, 0–1)
D: Olli Määttä 0+2, Ville Husso 24/24 saves (played 59.44).
Carolina–Ottawa and. 3–2 (2–0, 0–1, 0–1, 1–0)
C: Jesperi Kotkaniemi 1+1, Antti Raanta 26/28 saves (64.19), O: Leevi Meriläinen 34/37 saves (63.41).
New Jersey–Pittsburgh 5–1 (2–0, 2–0, 1–1)
St. Louis–Philadelphia 4–2 (1–0, 2–0, 1–2)
Nashville–Las Vegas and. 3–2 (2–0, 0–2, 0–0, 1–0)
Calgary–Chicago 3–4 (1–2, 1–0, 1–2)
Vancouver–Seattle 2–5 (2–1, 0–3, 0–1)
Los Angeles–Edmonton 1–3 (0–0, 0–1, 1–2)
San Jose–Colorado and. 3–4 (0–2, 1–1, 2–0, 0–1)
C: Mikko Rantanen 0+2, SJ: Kaapo Kähkönen 38/42 saves (63.00).