Linus Ullmark is back between the pipes - and for the Senators, his return couldn’t come at a better time.
After a 35-day absence, Ullmark is set to make his first start Saturday night as Ottawa hosts the Devils in their final home game before the Olympic break. It’s a welcome sight for a team looking to build momentum heading into the pause. Before stepping away, Ullmark posted a 14-8-5 record with a .881 save percentage and a 2.95 goals-against average - numbers that don’t jump off the page, but considering the defensive breakdowns in front of him at times, they tell only part of the story.
His teammates certainly feel his presence.
“Yeah, it’s huge,” said forward Drake Batherson after morning skate. “It’s been a while.
Good to have him around here the past couple weeks, and if he’s in there tonight, we’ll be fired up. We’re all excited for the game.”
The excitement isn’t just about Ullmark’s return - it’s about the work he’s put in to get here.
“Obviously it means a lot,” added Tim Stützle. “He’s been working really hard to come back.”
That work ethic has resonated with the group. And while veteran James Reimer has stepped up admirably during Ullmark’s absence, the Senators know they’re at their best when they’re giving their goalies the support they deserve - structurally and emotionally.
“We want to play good in front of our goalies and also give them confidence,” Stützle continued. “I think James has been playing great, and it’s been awesome to see.
As a group, we just play better when we’re more structured and don’t give up those grade-A chances. It always helps when we’re solid defensively and can still generate offense.”
That balance - defensive discipline without sacrificing creativity - has been a focus for Ottawa under Travis Green. And they’ll need it against a fast, skilled Devils squad that can punish mistakes in transition.
The Senators are also expected to get another boost up front, with rookie forward Stephen Halliday likely returning to the lineup. Halliday missed Wednesday’s game after leaving Sunday’s win over Vegas with an upper-body injury, but the young forward has made an impression in limited ice time.
“I think the team played a great game vs. Colorado, and I’m just trying to come in and do more of the same,” Halliday said Saturday. “Like I said when I first got here in Nashville - just play my game.”
Halliday’s recent performance speaks for itself. On Sunday, he recorded his first multi-goal game and first three-point night - all in under eight minutes of ice time. That kind of efficiency doesn’t go unnoticed, especially for a player still finding his footing at the NHL level.
Since being sent down to Belleville after training camp, Halliday’s been focused on the details - getting stronger, improving his faceoff game, and rounding out the elements that make a player NHL-ready.
“I just tried to get better,” he said. “They had some stuff for me to work on, and I really tried to take advantage of the amount of faceoffs I was taking down there. I thought the growth of my game - especially the details - has really come along, and I think that’s what you need to play in the NHL every day.”
With Ullmark back in net and Halliday returning to the mix, the Senators are getting healthier and deeper at a pivotal point in the season. Saturday night’s matchup isn’t just about two points - it’s a chance to build continuity and confidence heading into the Olympic break.
And for a team still trying to carve out its identity, that’s as valuable as anything on the stat sheet.