Linus Ullmark looks set to be back in net when the Ottawa Senators open their home schedule Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Ullmark was a full participant in the morning skate and was the first goalie off the ice, a strong sign he’s ready to start after leaving Ottawa’s 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Monday and then sitting out as the backup Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Senators had brought up goaltender Jonas Johansson to back up in Detroit, but he has since been sent back to Belleville.
Ullmark’s status had been in question after he was slow to get up when Boston’s JJ Peterka crashed into the crease with 4:24 left in the second period. He stayed in the game through the rest of the period, though it was clear something was off. He did not come out for the third, and coach Travis Green later said Ullmark “tweaked something,” adding that the decision was precautionary.
Even in a tiny early-season sample, the numbers have been strong. The 33-year-old has a .949 save percentage and a 1.20 goals-against average in Ottawa’s 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday and the victory in Boston.
One note that still matters: Ullmark has never played more than 49 games in a season, and that has happened only twice, including last year.
There were a couple of other encouraging signs at the skate. Defenceman Artem Zub and winger Andre Burakovsky, who have both yet to appear this season, were on the ice, though neither has been cleared to play. Green said both are “moving closer.”
Jake Sanderson was not on the ice.
In Other News...
Senators Home Opener Will Honor A Beloved Figure Fans Never Forgot
The Senators home opener on Thursday night will carry an emotional weight beyond the usual opening-night buzz, as the club prepares to honor Ray Emery, one of the most memorable figures from a pivotal era in franchise history. Emery was the starting goalie during Ottawas run to the 2006-07 Stanley Cup Final, the teams only modern-era trip that deep into the playoffs, and his presence still resonates with fans who watched that group come within reach of the sports biggest stage.
Before the puck drops against the Philadelphia Flyers, Emerys family will take part in the ceremonial bell ringing, a fitting tribute for a player who died eight years ago but never really left the conversation among Senators supporters. For a building about to welcome back hockey with all the usual pageantry, it is a reminder that some of the strongest connections in Ottawa are built not just on wins and losses, but on the people who helped define a generation of the team. [Read more 🡒]
Former Senators Fan Favorite Showed Ottawa Exactly What It Misses
Mark Stone keeps finding ways to remind people why he was such a fan favorite in Ottawa. The former Senators captain hit the 400-point mark with the Vegas Golden Knights in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, adding a goal and an assist while continuing to do the little things that have defined his career. For Senators fans, the bigger takeaway is familiar: Stone still plays with the kind of edge and responsibility that once made him such a trusted presence here.
The night also served as a reminder that his value goes well beyond the scoresheet. Stone mixed it up in the game and drew praise from teammates and coach Ryan Craig for the leadership and willingness to stand up for others that remain central to his role in Vegas. It is exactly the sort of presence Ottawa has been searching for at times since his departure, and it is hard not to watch a performance like that and think about what the Senators lost when he left. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Just Lost A Possible Break In Thursday's Matchup
Linus Ullmarks absence from the Senators net lasted only briefly, with head coach Travis Green saying the goaltender is set to return for Ottawas upcoming game against the Flyers. Its a welcome development for a club that has leaned on Ullmark as part of its early-season stability, especially after he exited a previous game because of injury and sat out just one contest before getting back on the ice.
Ullmark is in his third season with Ottawa and is playing under a four-year contract extension, so any health update draws attention well beyond one matchup. For the Flyers, it removes a potential break in a Thursday night game that could have opened the door to a different look in goal, and it leaves Ottawa with its preferred option back in place when the teams meet. [Read more 🡒]