Linus Ullmark is set to be back in goal for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, a welcome update after a brief scare earlier this week.
Senators head coach Travis Green told the media that the veteran netminder will return when Ottawa hosts the Philadelphia Flyers. Ullmark had left Monday night’s game against the Boston Bruins with an undisclosed injury, sending plenty of alarm through the fan base before the situation settled down.
The sequence on Monday had Ottawa holding its breath. In the second period, Ullmark was bumped by Bruins forward William Eklund, sparking a short scrum.
He stayed in long enough to finish the final minutes of the period, but he did not come out for the third. Samuel Ersson took over from there, and the Senators still finished off a 4-1 win.
That exit naturally raised questions about how long Ottawa might be without its starter. The memory of last season was still fresh: when Ullmark missed extended stretches because of injury and personal leave, the Senators had a harder time keeping pace in the Atlantic Division. He eventually returned and helped them secure a Wild Card spot, before Ottawa was eliminated in the first round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
This time, the absence was brief. Ullmark missed just one game, and the Senators dropped a 5-3 decision to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
Through two starts this season, the 33-year-old is 2-0-0, with wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opener and Boston before the injury scare. He’s been sharp, too, putting up a 1.20 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage.
Ullmark is now in his third season with Ottawa and the second year of the four-year extension he signed in October 2024. That contract carries an $8.25 million cap hit through the 2028-29 campaign and includes a full no-move clause.
Puck drop against the Flyers is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
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Linus Ullmark Gives Senators Home Opener A Massive Lift
Linus Ullmark was back on the ice for the Ottawa Senators morning skate Thursday and looked set to give them a major boost in the home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. After sitting out as a precaution in his previous appearance, the veteran goalies return matters for a team that wants a steadier start in front of its own crowd and a clean first impression at home.
There was still some uncertainty elsewhere on the roster, though, with Artem Zub and Andre Burakovsky taking part in the skate without yet being cleared to play. For Ottawa, the early-season picture is encouraging enough to feel better about its crease, even if a couple of lineup questions remain before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]