Meriläinen Is Outplaying Lankinen. Do the Canucks Have a New No. 1?
Sometimes a team finds an answer where it wasn't looking. The Vancouver Canucks have had enough problems this season without adding another goaltending debate, but Leevi Meriläinen is giving them something to think about.
Meriläinen is set to start against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, according to Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor. The 24-year-old has put up encouraging numbers and has been outplaying Kevin Lankinen so far this season. That has earned him more opportunities, which is probably how these things should work.
Through six appearances, Meriläinen has a 1-1-1 record, a 2.51 goals-against average, and a .925 save percentage. Those are respectable numbers for a goalie trying to establish himself, particularly on a team that hasn't given its goaltenders an easy ride.
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Meriläinen Is Making His Case for More Starts.
There is a small caution here. After allowing just one goal over three appearances, Meriläinen has given up three goals in each of his last three outings. That doesn't necessarily mean he's struggling, but it does remind us that six appearances aren't enough to draw firm conclusions about a goaltender.
Still, the bigger point is that Meriläinen has done enough to earn the crease more often. If a goalie is making saves and giving his team a chance to win, a coach has to take notice. Reputation and past performance can only carry a player so far.
That's especially true when a team is trying to find consistency. The Canucks need reliable goaltending, and they need to know whether Meriläinen can provide it over a longer stretch. The best way to find out is to keep giving him meaningful chances.
Can Meriläinen Change Vancouver’s Goaltending Picture?
The Hurricanes present a difficult test. A strong performance against a quality opponent would help Meriläinen's case, although one start shouldn't decide the bigger question. What matters is whether he can keep delivering over time.
Lankinen shouldn't be written off, either. Goaltending situations can change quickly, and a few good or bad outings can distort the picture. But competition for the starting job isn't necessarily a problem. It can be a useful thing if both goalies understand that performance matters.
The Canucks have bigger issues to solve than deciding who starts in net. But finding a dependable goalie would give them one less problem to worry about. Meriläinen hasn't established himself as the long-term answer yet. He's earned something more modest, but still important: another chance to prove he belongs.