Leevi Merilainen, Kevin Lankinen and the Canucks face a crease decision, and The Stanchion's Wyatt Arndt says it shouldn't be complicated.
"It's clearly Leevi Meriläinen's net for now," Arndt wrote. "No need to split the work load evenly or favor Lankinen based on his veteran status."
His conclusion was blunt: "Run Leevi and see what he's got for a while."
The numbers make the case. Merilainen sits at a .929 save percentage, while Lankinen is at .779 with five regulation losses.
The Canucks are 2-5-0 and have struggled badly on their eastern road trip. A rebuilding team needs stability somewhere, and the crease is the obvious place to start.
Lankinen's reported no-movement clause means he isn't going anywhere easily. That only strengthens the argument for letting the hot goalie play.
Manny Malhotra's crease call could define the Canucks' October
Malhotra has praised the young goalie's poise and "massive saves at key times," calling him a "never-a-bad-day kind of guy."
Vancouver targeted him all summer and claimed him off waivers from Ottawa four days before the season. That investment only pays off if he plays.
Thatcher Demko remains out indefinitely after major hip surgery. That makes this the ideal moment to find out what the newcomer can handle.
Arndt is right. Splitting starts to protect a veteran's pride makes no sense when the numbers are this lopsided, and Malhotra should hand Merilainen the net until he loses it.
-
It's like a band keeping the old drummer on stage when the new one hasn't missed a beat.
The Canucks visit Florida on Thursday, then finish the trip in Tampa Bay. Brady Tkachuk just scored a natural hat trick, so the next test won't be easy.
The goalie looks ready for the job. The only question is whether the coach is ready to give it to him for good.
Should Leevi Merilainen start every game for the Canucks right now?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Nathan MacKinnon bloodied in fight with Stars' Roope Hintz, his second of the season
