Who to start · 2026-27
Jacob Fowler vs Leevi Meriläinen
In 2026-27, Jacob Fowler posted a .926 save percentage to Leevi Meriläinen's .885.
Against our expected-goals model, Fowler saved +11.1 goals and Meriläinen −4.1.
This week Fowler has no games left; Meriläinen has 1 left (about 0.7 expected starts). In ESPN default points scoring we project Fowler for 0.0 to Meriläinen's -0.8 over the games left.
Jacob Fowler has the better number in 8 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.
Fowler's biggest edges: Wins 9, Goals against 26, Goals-against average 2.13.
Meriläinen's biggest edges: Saves 368, Games started 13, Rebounds prevented /100 −2.97.
In standard categories (W, GAA, SV%), the default in Who Should I Start, Jacob Fowler rates ahead, +4.1 to -3.2 in summed category z-scores.
- • Jacob Fowler is a rookie: 18 NHL games before this season.
- • Fowler has played 10 of the Canadiens' 14 games since Oct 13 (in and out of the lineup).
- • Meriläinen has played 10 of the Canucks' 13 games since Oct 15 (in and out of the lineup).
Montreal Canadiens · Vancouver Canucks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (3 categories), Jacob Fowler has the edge (Fowler wins 3, Meriläinen wins 0 of 3 categories).
| Category | Fowler | Meriläinen |
|---|---|---|
| Wins / game | 0.75 | 0.13 |
| GAA (lower wins) | 2.13 | 3.52 |
| Save % | 0.926 | 0.885 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head
Jacob Fowler and Leevi Meriläinen have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed and, for goalies, weighted by the chance he starts, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (W 4, GA -2, SV 0.2, SO 3, OTL 1). Use your league's scoring
Jacob Fowler
3games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Nov 10 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.926)
- Thu, Nov 12 @ BOSOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.906)
- Sat, Nov 14 vs COLOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.905)
Leevi Meriläinen
3games (1 left)
-0.8proj. ESPN default pts
About 0.7 expected starts
- Mon, Nov 9 vs PHI
- Fri, Nov 13 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Dylan Garand (.910)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jacob Fowler or Leevi Meriläinen?
- In 2026-27, Jacob Fowler posted a .926 save percentage to Leevi Meriläinen's .885. Against our expected-goals model, Fowler saved +11.1 goals and Meriläinen −4.1. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
- Who is better, Jacob Fowler or Leevi Meriläinen?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Jacob Fowler leads in 8 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
2026-27 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →