The Scandinavian Tandem

image credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen are taking the Senators into the 2025–26 season as the Scandinavian tandem. The starting goalie position for the Sens has felt like a question mark for the past five seasons, with Anton Forsberg, Matt Murray, Cam Talbot, and most recently Jonas Korpisalo expected to take the reins but ultimately failing to deliver. This season feels different: Ullmark is a former Vezina winner and posted a save percentage above .900 last year, something that had been nearly impossible in Ottawa for half a decade. Not only did Ottawa have one goalie above .900, they had three, and that above .900 number has become the key to success in Ottawa.

Ullmark finished last season with 44 games played, 25 wins, a 2.72 GAA, and a .910 SV%. Those numbers are miles better than what the Sens had been used to over the previous five seasons. He started the season strong, allowing just one goal on 32 shots against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Soon after, however, he struggled against the Canadiens and then missed 10 days with injury. His first 15 starts produced only five wins along with some tough losses, and Sens fans began reliving familiar “November nightmares”. But December was a different story. That month Ullmark was one of the best goalies in the league with a .956 SV% and seven straight wins. Then injury struck again, and Sens fans began to sweat.

Image Credit: SERGEI BELSKI | Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Enter Leevi Merilainen. In 12 starts, he lost just four games and gave the Sens a chance in nearly every outing. He finished with eight wins, a 1.99 GAA, and a .925 SV%, with standout performances against Dallas, Washington, Minnesota, and a surging Utah team. Merilainen provided a calming presence at a time when Forsberg was inconsistent and Ullmark remained sidelined. Once Ullmark returned, though, he went 0–5 in February and the team looked sluggish around him. March became a make-or-break month, and Ullmark rose to the occasion by winning nine of twelve games, with one of the losses coming in a shootout. That stretch essentially locked up a playoff spot for Ottawa, driven largely by Ullmark’s play. The momentum continued in April, with four wins in five games, and the rest is history.

In the offseason, speculation swirled about what GM Steve Staios would do: re-sign Forsberg as the veteran backup, look elsewhere for experience, or turn to the rookie who many credited with saving the Senators’ season. On July 1st, Free Agent Frenzy brought clarity: Forsberg signed with Los Angeles, clearing the path for Merilainen’s promotion to full-time backup.

It’s the right call. Merilainen looks ready to take the next step toward becoming a consistent NHL goalie, thanks largely to his demeanor. Calm and collected, he rarely drifts out of position because of his strong technical base. He’s not flashy and that’s exactly what you want, because it means he’s always in the right place at the right time. He reads the play exceptionally well and relies on simple, efficient movements in the crease. Finnish goaltenders are taught that technique and skating are the foundation of success, and Merilainen excels in both. Jamie McLennan, former NHL goalie and guest of The Senstennial, likened his game to having “a little Kipper in him” referencing Calgary Flames legend, Miikka Kiprusoff. That’s high praise, as Kiprusoff remains one of the best goalies of the modern era.

As for Ullmark, we know what he brings to the table: a Vezina Trophy, elite athleticism, and size. He may not be as technically refined as Merilainen, but his hockey IQ sets him apart. Ullmark reads the play so well that he’s often one step ahead of opposing offenses. While a year older, goaltenders today tend to age like fine wine, playing at their peak well into their 30s.

Gambling on this tandem does raise questions, given that Merilainen has only 12 NHL starts under his belt and Ullmark has never played more than 49 games in a season. That said, Ullmark is poised to prove why he’s considered one of the league’s best, especially with an improved team in front of him. Merilainen was stellar in his limited sample size, and the tandem model has worked for Ullmark before just look at his successful pairing with rookie Jeremy Swayman in Boston. The two pushed each other to excel, and a similar dynamic could emerge here.

The biggest concern, of course, is depth if injuries strike. Mads Sogaard and newly signed Hunter Shepard lack meaningful NHL experience, and that remains a risk. Still, Steve Staios has not steered the Sens wrong so far, and entering the season with Ullmark and Merilainen as the tandem should give Ottawa confidence to build on last year’s playoff berth.

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