The day after Saturday evening Embarrassing overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiensa postgame quote from Jake Sanderson resonated throughout the nation’s capital.
“I think Leevi (Merilainen) made some good saves,” Sanderson said when asked about the goalkeeper’s performance. “But at the end of the day, you have to make more than 10 saves to win the game.”
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It didn’t count on the stat sheet, but it was one of the few shots Merilainen faced Saturday night.
The 23-year-old goaltender allowed six goals on 19 shots. According to Natural Stat Trick’s game log, the Senators held the Canadiens to seven shots at five-on-five, with the remaining shots coming on the power play while the Canadiens had an empty net or overtime.
Trailing by a two-goal lead with less than five minutes to play, the Senators were in complete control.
The loss created a unique situation for Sanderson.
Jake Sanderson isn’t usually at the forefront of candid comments after tough losses. Usually, when the Senators experience these types of games, the burden falls on the captain, Brady Tkachuk, or other well-regarded veterans like Claude Giroux or Thomas Chabot.
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The reason is twofold. These players are part of the designated leadership group within the Senators’ front office, but they are also comfortable in front of the microphones and known for offering long, measured thoughts on the game.
It’s not that Sanderson is incapable of it, but he often feels reserved. There is enthusiasm for the game and the sport, but the defender never leaves his lane.
That’s why Saturday night’s comment resonates so much.
It was direct and unflinching honesty.
In an organization that keeps its cards close to its chest, refusing to divulge the lineup or starting goalie before last night’s game, Sanderson said out loud what everyone was thinking.
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After the game, I’m sure Sanderson would have apologized to Merilainen for publicly calling out the goaltender, but I hope his comments last night don’t dissuade him from being outspoken in the future.
His frustration is palpable and for good reason. His team’s season is on the line simply because they haven’t made enough saves.
Over the past 30 years, no NHL team has had a lower save percentage than the Senators’ current .865 save percentage. To find a worse grade, you would have to go back a few years earlier to the Senators’ first two seasons after their return to the NHL.
Since the start of the 1990-91 seasononly the 1992-93 early senators (.852) and the 1993-94 senators (.857) were worse.
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Keep in mind that the 1992-93 Senators were one of the worst teams in NHL history, winning just 10 of 84 games. Only the 1974-75 Washington Capitals recorded a lower points percentage (.131) than the Senators’ first team (.143).
When asked to evaluate Merilainen’s performance last night, head coach Travis Green took issue with the goaltending, but did so with some empathy.
It’s difficult to pass to (Merilainen), head coach Travis Green admitted. “Six goals on 18 shots and I’m sure he’d like to get one or two back, but I feel bad for him.”
It must be difficult for Merilainen, who has been thrust into the spotlight following Linus Ullmark’s decision to take a leave of absence from the team. Last night was his 11th straight start, a series of games born of necessity from Ullmark’s absence and the organization’s lack of confidence in Belleville’s recalled alternatives.
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After last night’s loss, Merilainen is -14.22 goals saved above expected average in 20 appearances. Only Jordan Binnington (-14.82 GSAx) of the St. Louis Blues has a lower rating and he has played in seven more games.
The goalie position is volatile, and this Olympic year’s condensed schedule probably hasn’t helped, as Merilainen doesn’t have much time between appearances to fine-tune the technical aspects of his game. If bad habits or shaky confidence creep into his game, the opportunity for them to carry over into his next start is real, given the team’s schedule of playing every other night.
After back-to-back wins against the Canucks and Rangers, the hope was that Merilainen could take advantage of those games and continue to tighten up his game.
But last night’s effort was disastrous.
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The good news is that Green acknowledged in his postgame media availability that the plan was for Linus Ullmark to travel with the team on their three-game road trip through Detroit, Columbus and Nashville. That may not mean he’s close to playing, but he’s been skating and practicing with his team the past few days.
Once Ullmark returns, the Senators should bring Merilainen back to Belleville to rediscover his game and come back strong.
James Reimer is expected to make his Senators debut Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Even though he hasn’t appeared in an NHL game since last April, the organization needs to see what it has.
“It’s a little frustrating,” Green admitted last night when describing the tendency to lose games where they dominate the opposition. “But I give our team a lot of credit. They’re fighting. They’re playing good hockey. Our goaltenders haven’t been at their best, and we know that. Our team continues to do that.”
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With a new veteran goaltender likely making his debut, Green will need his players to continue to show fighting spirit and resilience on Sunday (5 p.m. in Detroit).
Graeme Nichols
Ottawa hockey news
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