Senators’ Late Collapse Sparks Postgame Tension as Sanderson Criticizes Rookie Goalie Merilainen
The Ottawa Senators had a two-goal cushion with just over 12 minutes to play. Then it all unraveled-fast.
In a wild 6-5 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, Ottawa watched a 5-3 lead slip away in the final minutes. Montreal scored twice in a 65-second span late in the third, then sealed the comeback just 33 seconds into overtime with a Cole Caufield slapshot that beat rookie goaltender Leevi Merilainen.
The result was rough enough. But what followed might sting even more.
Defenseman Jake Sanderson didn’t mince words postgame, voicing frustration with Merilainen’s performance in a way that raised eyebrows across the league.
“I think Leevi made some good saves,” Sanderson told reporters. “But I think, at the end of the day, you’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win a game.”
The comment, though not a direct shot, clearly pointed the finger at the 21-year-old netminder, who stopped just 13 of 19 shots on the night. And while the numbers don’t lie-Ottawa allowed six goals on fewer than 20 shots-Sanderson’s decision to go public with his criticism struck a nerve with fans and teammates alike.
A Frustrated Fanbase Reacts
Social media lit up in the aftermath, with fans voicing everything from support for Sanderson’s accountability to concern over what the comment might mean for the locker room dynamic.
Some fans backed the sentiment but questioned the delivery:
- “He’s not wrong, but what a move throwing your goalie under the bus like that.”
- “Not really sure what he’s talking about-Merilainen made 13 saves, which is more than 10.”
Others pointed to the broader context:
- “Look, his performance wasn’t great. But he’s a rookie and the team left him out to dry.”
- “That’s not being a good teammate. Real leaders don’t say stuff like that.”
The reaction reflects a team-and a fanbase-already on edge. The Senators have been navigating a turbulent stretch, both on the ice and behind the scenes.
Behind the Curtain: Ongoing Locker Room Turmoil
The Senators have reportedly been dealing with internal issues since early January. According to online chatter, veteran goalie Linus Ullmark was allegedly involved in a situation where personal details about teammates were shared with his partner, leading to tension within the room. Ullmark has been on personal leave since Dec. 29, though the team has denied any connection between the rumors and his absence.
Captain Brady Tkachuk and team management have publicly dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless. Ullmark has reportedly returned to skating with the team and is expected to rejoin the lineup soon.
Still, the timing of Sanderson’s comments-amid a stretch of poor goaltending and locker room uncertainty-adds fuel to the fire.
Green, Tkachuk, and Stützle Offer Support for Merilainen
Head coach Travis Green didn’t go as far as Sanderson but acknowledged that Merilainen would likely want a few of those goals back.
“It’s hard to give him a pass,” Green said. “I’m sure he’d like to have one or two back. I feel bad for him.”
Center Tim Stützle, though, came to Merilainen’s defense with no hesitation.
“I don’t know why we’re talking about this,” Stützle said. “Leevi’s been playing great.
He’s been playing a lot of hockey. Every time someone scores, everybody blames the goalie.
But we have his back. We’ve got to play better in front of him and not give up high-danger scoring chances.”
Tkachuk echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the team-first mentality.
“It’s easy to criticize, but it’s not about an individual in this sport,” the captain said. “It’s about the whole team, and we’ve got to do a better job helping him.
He’s going to have an amazing long career. He’s an unbelievable goalie and an unbelievable person.
The message is: it’s not just one person who wins or loses a game-it’s the whole team.”
Goaltending Remains a Major Concern
Regardless of the postgame comments, one thing is clear: the Senators’ goaltending has been a glaring issue this season. They currently sit last in the NHL with a .865 team save percentage and rank 29th in Goals Against Average at 3.34.
Merilainen, despite his struggles against Montreal, holds an 8-10-1 record-slightly better than Ullmark’s 14-8-5 mark. But neither goalie has provided the kind of consistency Ottawa desperately needs to stay competitive.
The Senators are in a tough spot. They’ve got a young core, a passionate fanbase, and high expectations. But if the team can’t tighten up defensively-and if internal tensions continue to bubble to the surface-those expectations could quickly turn into another disappointing season.
Saturday’s loss wasn’t just about two points slipping away. It was a snapshot of a team still searching for stability, both on the ice and in the room.