Who to start · 2025-26
Leevi Meriläinen vs Lukas Dostal
In 2025-26, Leevi Meriläinen posted a .860 save percentage to Lukas Dostal's .888.
Against our expected-goals model, Meriläinen saved −19.3 goals and Dostal −3.6.
This week Meriläinen has 3 games left (about 1.5 expected starts) with 1 soft matchup; Dostal has 3 left (about 2.5 expected starts) with 2 soft matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Dostal for 2.9 to Meriläinen's 0.6 over the games left.
Lukas Dostal has the better number in 9 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.
Meriläinen's biggest edges: Goals against 64.
Dostal's biggest edges: Saves 1,344, Wins 30, Rebounds prevented /100 +0.51.
In standard categories (W, GAA, SV%), the default in Who Should I Start, Lukas Dostal rates ahead, -0.7 to -3.0 in summed category z-scores.
- • Meriläinen has played 6 of the Canucks' 8 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 6 GP, 1 W, .925 SV%.
- • Dostal has played 7 of the Ducks' 9 games since Oct 2 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 3 W, .881 SV%.
Vancouver Canucks · Anaheim Ducks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leevi Meriläinen
-3.0
category z-score total
Lukas Dostal
-0.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (3 categories), Lukas Dostal has the edge (Meriläinen wins 0, Dostal wins 3 of 3 categories).
| Category | Meriläinen | Dostal |
|---|---|---|
| Wins / game | 0.33 | 0.50 |
| GAA (lower wins) | 3.22 | 3.12 |
| Save % | 0.879 | 0.886 |
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: Meriläinen vs Dostal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Meriläinen | Dostal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-20 | OTT 3–2 ANA | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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
Leevi Meriläinen
3games
0.6proj. ESPN default pts
About 1.5 expected starts
- Opp allows 11th-most FP to Gvs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
- Opp allows 3rd-most FP to GLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Lukas Dostal
4games (3 left)
2.9proj. ESPN default pts
About 2.5 expected starts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ NYROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Opp allows 4th-most FP to GLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Opp allows 5th-most FP to GLikely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leevi Meriläinen or Lukas Dostal?
- In 2025-26, Leevi Meriläinen posted a .860 save percentage to Lukas Dostal's .888. Against our expected-goals model, Meriläinen saved −19.3 goals and Dostal −3.6. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
- Who is better, Leevi Meriläinen or Lukas Dostal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lukas Dostal leads in 9 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Meriläinen and Dostal done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Meriläinen's team went 1–0.
2025-26 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 →