The Senators will turn to Merilainen between the pipes for the fourth time in their last five games. The 22-year-old netminder was outstanding in his previous outing, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. He has a 2.68 GAA and .900 SV% in three games this season (2-1-0). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as +158 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars club outscoring their opposition 9-3 during a two-game winning streak.

The Senators will likely turn to Merilainen between the pipes for the fourth time in their last five games. The 22-year-old netminder was outstanding in his previous outing, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. He has a 2.68 GAA and .900 SV% in three games this season (2-1-0). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as +158 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars club outscoring their opposition 9-3 during a two-game winning streak.

Ottawa has recalled goalies Mads Sogaard and Leevi Meilainen from the Belleville Senators (AHL), which is likely a sign that Linus Ullmark's injury will keep him out of the lineup. Ullmark suffered an upper-body injury in the team's final game before the holiday break, exiting the contest after one period.

Merilainen being sent down to the Belleville Senators (AHL) is likely an indication that Linus Ullmark (strain) is ready to return to the Senators lineup. The 22-year-old Merilainen has a 3.47 GAA and .852 SV% in three games with Belleville this season (2-1-0).

With Linus Ullmark (strain) sidelined for at least one more game Merilainen has been recalled to serve as Anton Forsberg's backup on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 22-year-old Merilainen has a 3.47 GAA and .852 SV% in three games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) this season (2-1-0).

Leevi served as the backup to Anton Forsberg over the weekend as Joonas Korpisalo was out of the lineup with an illness. Merilainen has a 3.02 GAA and .904 SV% in 16 games (7-6-1) with Belleville (AHL) this season.

Merilainen stopped all 41 shots that he faced in his AHL debut before being recalled. He started two games with the Senators, going 0-1-1 with a 4.23 GAA and .878 SV%.

Merilainen was 18-13-7 with a .918 SV% and 2.02 GAA with Karpat (Liiga) this season and has earned his first NHL callup and start Tuesday. The 20-year-old was the Senators' 2020 third-round pick (71 overall) and will be making his NHL debut vs. Carolina, who has won their last two games and are third in the NHL in shots per game (34.9).

Merilainen was 18-13-7 with a .918 SV% and 2.02 GAA with Karpat (Liiga) this season and has earned his first NHL callup and start Tuesday. The 20-year-old was the Senators' 2020 third-round pick (71 overall) and will be making his NHL debut vs. Carolina, who has won their last two games and are third in the NHL in shots per game (34.9).