When the Ottawa Senators brought in Lars Eller this offseason, the plan was clear: add a steady, veteran presence who could slide anywhere in the lineup. Eller’s versatility has always been one of his calling cards, and now, he’s getting a chance to showcase that flexibility in a big way. On Sunday night in Dallas, Eller will slot in alongside Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson-a top-line opportunity that speaks volumes about both his reliability and the current state of the Senators’ forward group.
Let’s be honest-Eller isn’t going to light up the scoreboard like Stützle or Batherson. But that’s not why he’s there.
What he brings is structure. Defensive awareness.
The kind of responsibility that lets his linemates lean into their offensive instincts without worrying about what’s happening behind them. In a lineup that’s still trying to find its rhythm, Eller offers a stabilizing force.
He’s the guy who keeps things tidy so the playmakers can go to work.
Meanwhile, Ridly Greig is officially back in action after missing the last five games. Head coach Travis Green isn’t throwing him straight into the fire, opting instead to ease him in on the fourth line.
But don’t mistake that for a soft assignment-Greig will be centering a feisty trio with Nick Cousins and David Perron, a group that promises to be a handful for opponents. It’s a line built for energy, agitation, and the kind of gritty minutes that can tilt momentum.
To make room for Greig, Hayden Hodgson comes out as a healthy scratch.
The rest of the forward lines stay intact from Friday’s loss in St. Louis, with the middle six holding steady. That continuity speaks to Green’s desire to build chemistry and consistency, even as the team continues to shuffle pieces due to injuries and performance.
On the blue line, no changes either. Tyler Kleven, who took a puck off the hand in Friday’s game, is good to go-welcome news for a team already navigating life without Thomas Chabot, who remains on injured reserve.
Dennis Gilbert has been called up from AHL Belleville, but for now, he’s in a depth role. That means Nikolas Matinpalo continues to get reps on the third pair, playing on his off side.
It’s not the ideal setup, but it’s a chance for the right-handed defender to keep proving he belongs.
Between the pipes, Linus Ullmark is back in net after getting Friday off. The veteran goaltender has been a steadying presence, and with the Senators looking to bounce back against a high-powered Dallas squad, they’ll lean on him to anchor things once again.
Projected Lines vs. Stars:
Forwards
Eller - Stützle - Batherson
Tkachuk - Cozens - Zetterlund
Amadio - Pinto - Giroux
Cousins - Greig - Perron
Defense
Sanderson - Zub
Kleven - Spence
Matinpalo - Jensen
Goaltender
Ullmark
Puck drops at 6:00 p.m. ET on TSN5, TVA Sports, and TSN 1200 AM. The Senators are still searching for their identity this season, but Sunday night in Dallas offers another opportunity to take a step forward-and maybe, with Eller helping to anchor the top line, they’ll find a combination that clicks.