After nearly three weeks away from game action, Linus Ullmark is inching closer to a return-and the Ottawa Senators are more than ready to welcome him back into the fold.
Ullmark, who’s been skating on his own for the past 10 days, is expected to travel with the Senators on their upcoming three-game road swing. The trip starts in Detroit, then moves to Columbus on Tuesday and wraps up in Nashville on Thursday. While there’s still no firm timetable for when he’ll officially retake the crease, this is the clearest sign yet that the veteran netminder is trending in the right direction.
In the meantime, Ottawa has been leaning heavily on young goaltender Leevi Meriläinen, who’s set to make his 10th straight start-and 11th consecutive appearance-when the Senators face the Canadiens. It’s been a trial by fire for the 21-year-old, and while the results have been up and down, he’s held his own under pressure. That kind of workload isn’t easy for any goalie, let alone one still getting his feet wet at the NHL level.
To help ease the burden, Ottawa brought in veteran James Reimer, who signed on as an unrestricted free agent after a short AHL stint in Belleville. Reimer shared the net with Ullmark during practice and is expected to make his Senators debut against the Red Wings on Sunday. His presence gives the team some much-needed experience between the pipes and should help stabilize the position while Ullmark works his way back to full game shape.
As for Ullmark, the last time we saw him in game action was December 27, when he was pulled in a rough outing against the Maple Leafs. Since then, it’s been a slow build back, but his teammates are encouraged by what they’re seeing.
“It’s great seeing him back on the ice,” said alternate captain Thomas Chabot. “He’s been skating a little bit, but just to be back with the team is a big step in the right direction. We’re happy to have him back.”
There’s no question Ullmark’s return would be a significant boost for a Senators squad that’s been battling inconsistency all season. When healthy, he brings a calm, composed presence in net and a proven ability to steal games. For now, the team will continue to ride Meriläinen and look to Reimer for support, but all eyes will be on Ullmark’s progress as the trip unfolds.