Ottawa Senators News

Ersson was replaced by Carter Hart in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks due to dehydration and was a game-time decision on Friday against the Seattle Kraken.

Burakovsky is making significant progress, participating in practice for Seattle and appears to have an imminent return on the horizon after being activated off the Injured Reserve Friday. Burakovsky returned to the lineup from a six-week absence early in December but was immediately injured in his return and has missed three weeks since.

Ersson was replaced by Carter Hart in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks due to dehydration and will be a game-time decision on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. On the back end of a back-to-back, despite Hart playing a portion of the third period, common logic dictates that Hart will start on Friday regardless of Ersson's ability to suit up.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Flyers will turn to Samuel Ersson for the sixth time in the last seven games. Ersson's clutch of the starting position for the Flyers is a result of Hart being unable to play due to various injuries and illnesses over the last month, but he has made the most of his time between the pipes. Ersson has played nine games since mid-November (7-1-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .926 SV%. That said, the Flyers will be put to the test as +136 road underdogs on Thursday against a Vancouver Canucks club that was shut out by the Flyers 2-0 in the opening week of the season.

Blais has only played one of the last six games for the Blues but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Blais' ice time has decreased by more than a minute this season but he is still committed to his hard-nosed style of play, averaging 3.08 hits per game.

Ersson has won three consecutive games and will start for a fifth straight time on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Ersson has been tremendous lately, helping his team collect at least a point in eight consecutive outings (7-0-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, and posting a tremendous .930 SV%. The surprising Flyers, 7-0-2 in their last nine, are -119 home favourites against the Predators, who have scored only three combined goals in their last two games (1-1-0).

Ullmark will be back between the pipes on Tuesday after Jeremy Swayman got the nod in Saturday's 2-1 overtime defeat to the Rangers. Ullmark has endured a relatively cold stretch of late, registering a 3-3-0 record and an .893 SV% across his last six starts. He did collect a win his last time out over the Islanders despite surrendering four goals on 37 shots. He draws an enticing matchup on Tuesday with the Bruins being -225 home favourites over the Wild.

Carter Hart was originally reported as the Flyers' starter Tuesday but instead will be out due to illness as Samuel Ersson gets his fourth-consecutive start. The 24-year-old Swedish netminder has steadily improved as the season has rolled on (.930 SV% in last 9 GP), with his 7-3-2 record, .897 SV%, 2.57 GAA and two shutouts. He takes on the New Jersey Devils, who lost their previous contest 5-1 to Anaheim and are ranked seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.48).

Tomasino will re-enter the Predators lineup on Friday as Luke Evangelista is expected to be a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Tomasino has nine points (1G / 8A) in 21 games this season, averaging 12:39 time-on-ice while playing predominantly with Cole Smith and Michael McCarron

Ullmark will start for the third time in the last four games for the Bruins when they face off against the New York Islanders on Friday. Ullmark has played well despite allowing three goals in each of his last three contests (2-1-0), boasting a .917 SV%. Ullmark has a career 2.51 GAA and has fared favourably against the Islanders in his career, including a 5-2 victory on November 9th when he saved 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%).

Ersson will start the third consecutive game on Saturday as Carter Hart remains out of the lineup due to an illness. Ersson has played well lately, winning five of his last six games (5-0-1) and sporting an impressive .917 SV%. Ersson and the Flyers will match up against the struggling Detroit Red Wings, who have battled a myriad of injuries lately and have lost four of their last five outings (1-3-1).

Ersson draws his second-straight start for the first time this season after Carter Hart (illness) was announced out Thursday. The 24-year-old Flyers backup has fought the puck most nights when between the crease this season, with his 5-3-2 record, 2.80 GAA and .883 SV%. He will host the Washington Capitals Thursday, who have won their last two games but are struggling offensively as they are 29th in the NHL in shots per game (27.9) and 30th in goals (2.48).

Eklund did not play on Sunday but is expected to return for Tuesday's contest against the Vancouver Canucks. Before his injury, Eklund had five points (2G / 3A) in his last four games, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per night.

Despite an unflattering .885 SV% to go with a 2.78 GAA, Ersson has won four straight games, stringing together the best play of his career at the NHL level. Ersson has only allowed eight total goals on 117 shots (.932 SV%) and recorded a shutout during his four-game winning streak, a significant uptick in play after starting the season with a .830 SV% in his first five outings (1-3-1). The Flyers have won four straight but are +126 road underdogs against a Nashville Predators team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0).