Ottawa Senators News

Sanderson was labeled as week-to-week when he suffered an upper-body injury in Seattle on March 7th, but appears to nearing a return, possibly as soon as Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Ottawa's blueline being decimated with injuries, the team will be eager to welcome their top defenseman back into the lineup.

As the Senators continue their late-season push for a playoff spot, they will turn to Ullmark to tend the twine on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Swedish goalie was terrific in his previous game, saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in a crucial 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Since returning from a lengthy personal leave of absence in late January, Ullmark has a 2.31 GAA and .902 SV% in 13 games (9-2-2). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -145 home favourites against a Penguins team that has been outscored 11-3 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Thomson made his season debut in Monday's 2-1 win over the New York Rangers, but only lasted 4:25 time-on-ice before exiting the game with a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old Thomson has nine blocks, 23 hits and five assists in 19 career NHL games, but had not played in the league since a two-game stint with Ottawa in 2022-23.

Ottawa's blueline has been decimated by injuries lately, as Gilbert, out for the next few weeks, has been added to that growing list. The 29-year-old Gilbert is averaging 11:22 time-on-ice and has one assist in six games this season.

Chabot exited Monday's 2-1 win over the New York Rangers after only 10:21 time-on-ice because due to an injury. He has since undergone surgery to address the issue and will effectively be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and beyond. The 29-year-old defenseman has 31 points (7G / 24A) in 55 games this season.

Eliasson was drafted 39th overall by the Senators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has earned a three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old Swedish defenseman has eight points (2G / 6A) this season in 61 games with the Barrie Colts (OHL).

Ullmark will start the tail-end of Ottawa's back-to-back tonight after getting the night off on Monday. Ullmark secured the victory in his last outing, stopping 12 of the 14 shots he faced in a 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Sunday. The 32-year-old carries a 22-10-7 record and an .885 SV% into Tuesday night's must-win game in Detroit, where the Sens enter action at +105 on the money line.

With injuries piling up on Ottawa's blueline, the team has recalled Donovan, their fifth-round pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He has 21 points (4G / 17A) in 58 games this season with Belleville (AHL).

With injuries piling up on Ottawa's blueline, the team has recalled Yakemchuk, their seventh-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game, but has been solid in his first professional season, scoring 36 points (10G / 26A) in 50 games with Belleville (AHL).

With Dennis Gilbert (upper body) out of the lineup, the Senators will turn to Thomson for his season debut on Monday against the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Thomson has nine blocks, 23 hits and five assists in 18 career NHL games, but has not played in the league since a two-game stint with Ottawa in 2022-23.

On the front end of a back-to-back, amid a tight race for a Wild Card spot in an ultra-tight Eastern Conference, the Senators will turn to Reimer on Monday against the New York Rangers. The 38-year-old goalie has played well in limited action, including saving 17 of 19 shots in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. Reimer has allowed two or fewer goals in four of his last five games (4-1-0), posting a 1.81 GAA and .898 SV%. The Senators enter Monday's contest as -184 road favourites against a Rangers team that extended their losing streak to four games (0-3-1) in yesterday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Sanderson was labeled as week-to-week when he suffered an upper-body injury in Seattle on March 7th. Head coach Travis Green told reporters on Saturday that Sanderson is skating again and could be back in roughly 7-to-10 days, which means he'll miss about five or six more games if all goes well.

Ullmark allowed two goals on 23 shots in the Senators' loss in Washington on Wednesday. James Reimer gave him a night off on Thursday, but the Senators will come back to Ullmark tonight vs. Toronto. It has been an up-and-down season for Ullmark, and he comes into Saturday at 5-2-2 with a 2.57 GAA, .892 SV% and one shutout since the Olympic break. He's a great option on Saturday with Ottawa coming in as massive -275 home favourites vs. their provisional rivals.