Canucks goalie Leevi Merilainen is running with an unexpected starting job

Leevi Merilainen has started six of the Vancouver Canucks' last eight games, including three straight, after arriving on waivers from the Ottawa Senators just before the season to back up Kevin Lankinen.

The 24-year-old has played in 10 of Vancouver's first 15 games. He said he is surprised "in a way," and coach Manny Malhotra admitted it wasn't the plan.

"It wasn't the intention early on," Malhotra said Friday after the Canucks practiced ahead of Saturday's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. "But when you talk about taking advantage of an opportunity, he's done exactly that."

Merilainen was strong again in Thursday's 3-2 loss in San Jose, though three goals on 24 shots dropped his save percentage to .898, the first time it has been under .900 this season. He was at .925 after six appearances. Lankinen sits at .812 through seven starts and eight appearances.

Evolving Hockey's model has him 16th of 60 goalies with at least 120 minutes, at 5.45 goals saved above expected, while Lankinen is last at minus-11.23.

Malhotra pointed to Merilainen's demeanour. "Even during some erratic situations around his crease, he stays calm, he stays positionally sound, and he gets us those saves," he said.

Workload is now part of the discussion. "It's definitely a part of the conversation," Malhotra said. "That's the next step in his progression: that when you play well and you get the net, you have to continue to take advantage of those minutes."

This is Merilainen's longest run since he started 10 straight for Ottawa from Dec. 29 to Jan. 17. He has said it didn't go as well as he wanted, and he spent the rest of that season in the American Hockey League. Thatcher Demko's rehab from major hip surgery last February is still ongoing, and Merilainen says he isn't worrying about it.

"When (Thatcher) is back, he's back, and that's great," he said. "But I'm not going to worry about that."