Ottawa Senators News

Merilainen remains the go-to option for the Senators with Linus Ullmark (personal) away from the team, and will return to the crease on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 23-year-old Merilainen has a subpar 3.34 GAA and .875 SV% in 13 games this season (6-7-0). That said, he has won two straight while posting a 2.50 GAA and .904 SV%. The Senators enter Monday's contest as -153 home favorites against a Red Wings team on a two-game losing streak (0-1-1).

Merilainen remains the go-to option for the Senators with Linus Ullmark (personal) away from the team, and will likely return to the crease on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 23-year-old Merilainen has a subpar 3.34 GAA and .875 SV% in 13 games this season (6-7-0). That said, he has won two straight while posting a 2.50 GAA and .904 SV%. The Senators enter Monday's contest as -153 home favorites against a Red Wings team on a two-game losing streak (0-1-1).

With Linus Ullmark (personal) still away from the team, Merilainen continues his duties as the Senators' de facto starting goalie. The 23-year-old Merilainen did not fare well in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 22 shots (.818 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has a 3.51 GAA and .869 SV% in 11 games this season (4-7-0).

Pinto has been sidelined for over three weeks due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 18:58 time-on-ice and has 18 points (12G / 6A) in 27 games this season.

Pinto has been sidelined for over three weeks due to a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 18:58 time-on-ice and has 18 points (12G / 6A) in 27 games this season.

The Senators will look to add some grit on Monday, with MacDermid re-entering the lineup. The 31-year-old MacDermid has one assist, 28 penalty minutes, and 13 hits in 15 games this season.

Tyler Kleven will return to the lineup on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, resulting in Jensen being a healthy scratch. The 35-year-old Jensen sits for the first time this season. He has eight points (1G / 7A) in 37 games.

Nick Jensen will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Kleven to return to the lineup against the Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old Kleven is averaging 17:05 time-on-ice and has five assists in 32 games this season.

With Linus Ullmark (personal) away from the team, Merilainen will jump into the starting position, beginning with Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Merilainen was serviceable in relief of Ullmark in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The 23-year-old goalie has a 3.43 GAA and .874 SV% in 10 games this season (4-6-0). The Senators enter Monday's contest as sizable -207 home favorites against a Blue Jackets team that played last night, winning 4-2 over the New York Islanders.

With Linus Ullmark on a personal leave of absence, Ottawa has recalled Shepard from Belleville (AHL) to serve as Leevi Merilainen's backup. The 30-year-old Shepard has a 3.16 GAA and .905 SV% in 11 games (5-5-1) with Belleville this season.

Bourgault was a first-round pick (No.22 overall) in 2021 and will finally make his NHL debut on Saturday after 210 career AHL games. This season, Bourgault has 27 points (9G / 18A) in 32 games with Belleville. He'll start his NHL career on the Senators' fourth line.

Ullmark allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Senators' overtime loss to the Sabres on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Ullmark, who has gone 5-2-1 with a. 2.26 GAA and .908 SV% in eight starts in December. Tonight he gets the start in Toronto, where the Senators are -129 road favourites.