Finnigan's 8: Dec. 13, 2021

Finnigan's 8 is a weekly recap highlighting eight top performing Ottawa Senators prospects.

Tyler Kleven (North Dakota/NCAA)Season totals: 19GP / 4G / 2A / 58PIM / +7
Kleven buried his fourth goal of the season, albeit into an empty-net, Saturday in a 4-1 win at Colorado State as the Fighting Hawks completed a weekend sweep.
It was Kleven's first goal since Nov. 13 while his four shots on goal in the game were his second highest of the season. Kleven's 58 penalty minutes this season lead the entire NCAA.
Carson Latimer (Prince Albert/WHL)Season totals: 21GP / 9G / 4A / 4PIM / +9
Latimer continued his hot start to his Raiders career with a four-point week. He buried his first Prince Albert goal Tuesday, and added an assist, in a 5-4 loss to Swift Current.
He'd score both Raiders goals in a 5-2 loss to Regina Friday while in both games this week he tallied four shots on goal, a season high.

Viktor Lodin (Timra/SHL)Season totals: 19GP / 5G / 9A / 29PIM / -2
Lodin grabbed his fifth goal of the season Thursday as Timra were beaten 5-2 by Skelleftea while his 20:30 of ice time was his third highest of the season. His three hits also tied his season high.
The Swede's 14 points this year are the fourth most on a struggling Timra squad that currently occupies one of two SHL playout positions.

Kevin Mandolese (Belleville/AHL)Season totals: 9GP / 4-4-0 / 2.98 GAA / .904 save percentage
In his first AHL start since Nov. 27, Mandolese was spectacular Friday as he stopped 24 of 25 shots as the Senators won 4-1 in Providence.
Mandolese has also played three games with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators this year but has won three of his last four AHL starts with Belleville.
Leevi Merilainen (Kingston/OHL)Season totals: 21GP / 14-4-3 / 3.19 GAA / .897 save percentage
Two starts for Merilainen this week, two wins for the Finnish netminder. He got the win Friday in a wild 6-5 victory over Hamilton before he stopped 40 shots Sunday in a 5-3 victory against Mississauga.
His 14 wins this season are the second most in the OHL while his 572 saves rank third.
The Fronts currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference while their 17 wins this year are tied with London for the most in the OHL.
Ben Roger (Kingston/OHL)Season totals: 25GP / 0G / 5A / 14PIM / +6
Roger recorded points in back-to-back games this week with the Fronts as they went a perfect 3-0-0 in a three-in-three.
After a 6-5 home win against Hamilton Friday, Roger notched his first point with the Frontenacs Saturday in a 5-2 road win against Niagara. He'd add another assist Sunday as the Fronts scored five first period goals against the Steelheads in a 5-3 road victory.
Chandler Romeo (Hamilton/OHL)Season totals: 25GP / 1G / 6A / 34PIM / -3
Romeo had a two-point week with the Bulldogs as he tallied a pair of assists. He was pointless in a 4-0 win Wednesday over Oshawa but then notched one assist in Friday's 6-5 loss to Kingston. He'd add another helper a day later as the Bulldogs won 8-3 in Ottawa against the 67s where he'd match his career high with three shots.
His 34 penalty minutes this season are the fourth most on the team. Hamilton sits second in the East Division.
Lassi Thomson (Belleville/AHL)Season totals: 8GP / 3G / 2A / 6PIM / 0 +/-
In his return to the AHL, it was twwo goals in two games this week for Thomson. The Finnish d-man scored on the power play Friday in Belleville's 4-1 win in Providence, where he also added an assist, and on Sunday scored his third goal of the season in a 3-2 victory in Bridgeport.
In two games this week, Thomson was a +4 and totaled five shots on goal. Thomson has also played 11 games with Ottawa this year where he's tallied three assists.
* photo credit: Mark Peterson Media