COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson said he apologized to goaltender Leevi Meriläinen following comments he made toward the goaltender after he allowed six goals in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

“First off, I’m pretty embarrassed,” Sanderson said. “I think that’s a situation where, after a game, you’ve got to take a few more minutes. Take a few deep breaths. I talked to Leevi after the (game) and apologized. I still feel really bad. Leevi’s a great guy. And I think that’s not what good teammates do. You don’t tear each other down. You build each other up, especially after a game like that. I’m pretty embarrassed.”

Sanderson was asked to evaluate his team’s goaltending on Saturday, after Meriläinen’s performance against the Canadiens, where the Senators allowed two goals late in the third period before allowing an overtime-winning goal from Cole Caufield. It was Meriläinen’s 10th consecutive start for the Senators.

“I think Leevi made some good saves,” Sanderson said. “But I think, at the end of the day, you’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win a game.”

Senators head coach Travis Green also said it was “hard to give him a pass” when asked about Meriläinen on Saturday. On Tuesday, he spoke in defense of Sanderson.

“I think it’s been overblown by a lot,” Green said. “Jake Sanderson’s one of the best teammates you’re ever going to find in the league. It’s an emotional game. It’s much like my comments after the game as well. I said it’s hard to give him a free pass; I feel bad for him. I’ve said that many times. Maybe a goal or two that you’d like back. I think it was fairly obvious, and I think it was overblown. And it definitely didn’t have an effect on our room.”

Meriläinen backed up James Reimer on Sunday, who allowed four goals on 34 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to Detroit. By Tuesday morning, he was sent back to Belleville of the American League. Hunter Shepard was called up in his place.

The Senators currently occupy the league’s worst team save percentage at .866, while Meriläinen and Linus Ullmark have two of the three worst goals-saved above expected rates in the league, according to MoneyPuck.com. Ullmark remains away from the Senators on personal leave.

“It can be frustrating at times, but it’s a team sport,” Sanderson said when asked about his team’s goaltending struggles this season. “There’s times where the D-core isn’t playing good. There’s times where the forwards aren’t doing their job. There’s just those ebbs and flows in a season. But at the same time, obviously seeing Linus coming back with him, bringing his positivity to our team, we’re very excited to have him back soon.”