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Fantasy Hockey Goalie Waiver Wire: Leevi Merilainen aims for 3rd straight win

jan levine
·3 min read

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.

13 games on January 14

* = confirmed

  • Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB @ Jeremy Swayman, BOS (7 p.m. ET)

  • Jake Oettinger, DAL @ Joseph Woll, TOR (7 p.m. ET)

  • Yaroslav Askarov, SJ @ Cam Talbot, DET (7 p.m. ET)

  • Joey Daccord, SEA @ Tristan Jarry, PIT (7 p.m. ET)

  • Lukas Dostal, ANA @ Logan Thompson, WAS (7 p.m. ET)

  • Ivan Fedotov, PHI @ Elvis Merzlikins, CLM (7 p.m. ET)

  • Spencer Knight, FLA* @ Jacob Markstrom, NJ (7:30 p.m. ET)

  • Leevi Merilainen, OTT @ Ilya Sorokin, NYI (7:30 p.m. ET)

  • Dan Vladar, CGY @ Jordan Binnington, STL (8 p.m. ET)

  • Ilya Samsonov, LV @ Juuse Saros, NSH (8 p.m. ET)

  • Thatcher Demko, VAN @ Connor Hellebuyck, WPG (8 p.m. ET)

  • Igor Shesterkin, NYR @ Mackenzie Blackwood, COL (9 p.m. ET)

  • Samuel Montembeault, MTL @ Karel Vejmelka, UTAH* (9 p.m. ET)

Yaroslav Askarov, SJ @ DET (22% rostered)
Cam Talbot, DET vs. SJ (44% rostered)

This is a choose-your-adventure, choose-your-poison listing. Both Askarov and Talbot make intriguing options. Askarov is 2-3-1 in his last six starts and is down to 3-3-2 with a 2.39 goals-against average (GAA) and a .917 save percentage over eight appearances. The Red Wings are riding a seven-game win streak with Talbot 4-0-0 since the calendar flipped to 2025, turning aside 85 of 96 shots in that span. Talbot is the favorite to notch the win with Askarov more likely to make more saves in the matchup.

Merzļikins enters Tuesday's contest on a roll. He's won three consecutive games, and is 6-1-1 in his last eight contests. Despite the record, his ancillary numbers are nothing special, as he's posted a 3.17 GAA and .894 save percentage. Those starts are in line with his full-season performance — 3.12 and .889 — so Merzļikins is benefiting from the improved Columbus offense in front of him. Roll with Elvis as he goes for four in a row.

Leevi Meriläinen, OTT @ NYI (2% rostered)

Meriläinen has ably stepped in with Linus Ullmark out week-to-week, winning both ends of a back-to-back this past weekend. Overall, the 22-year-old netminder is 4-2-0 with a 2.34 GAA and a .913 save percentage. The Senators have a tough test facing the Islanders, who have won three in a row, at UBS Arena. But Meriläinen comes in with wins over Pittsburgh on the road and Dallas at home, making a solid candidate to notch his third straight victory.

Vejmelka comes into Tuesday's contest, 2-4-1 in his last seven. But his record does not tell the full story, as Vejmelka has posted a 2.60 GAA and .910 save percentage during that span. Vejmelka has a tough matchup versus the Canadiens, who are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. A win may be a bit of a stretch, but a solid GAA and sv% are well within his reach.

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