Ullmark stopped 27 of 29 shots in the Sabres win over the Senators last Saturday. Ullmark has played very well this season, winning three of his first four starts while posting a 2.00 GAA, .934 SV% and one shutout. The 25-year-old netminder will see increased usage if he continues to play well. Tonight he takes on a Canadiens team that has lost three of their last five games.
Tkachuk has been out since October 15th, but will be back in the Senators lineup vs. Golden Knights. The rookie had a strong start to his career, picking up three goals and three assists (six points) in four games.
Anderson allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Senators win over the Devils on Tuesday. Anderson has been under siege all season and that should continue tonight with the Golden Knights in town—Vegas is currently averaging the fifth most shots per game (33.7) in the NHL. Despite a 5-2-2 record, Anderson has a 3.14 GAA and .919 SV% on home-ice this season.
Tkachuk was once again on the ice at the Senators facility on Tuesday, but will not play tonight vs. the Devils. Tkachuk shed his non-contact jersey and is “very close” to returning to the lineup. Look for him to be back in the Senators’ top-6 on Thursday.
Anderson allowed four goals on 45 shots in the Senators loss to the Lightning on Sunday. Anderson has struggled lately, going 1-3-2 with a 4.37 GAA and 898 SV% in his last six starts—he has faced 42.7 shots/60 in those games. Things won’t get any easier tonight with the Devils in town—New Jersey is averaging the 11th most goals per game (3.25) in the NHL.
Formenton was a second-round pick in 2017 and scored one goal in nine games with the Senators to open the season. Formenton returns to London, where he had 29 goals and 19 assists (48 points) in 48 games last season.
Anderson allowed two goals on 24 shots after replacing Mike Condon in the Senators loss in Arizona on Tuesday. Anderson has been inconsistent this season (shocker) and is now on a four-game winless streak, allowing an impressively bad 16 goals on 146 shots (.890 SV%) in the process. Even against a Sabres team that is averaging the sixth fewest goals per game in the league, Anderson is a risky option.
Brassard will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury. The Penguins did not provide much of an update on Brassard, so his status for Saturday’s game vs. the Maple Leafs is also in doubt.
Brassard will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Brassard had been skating on the top line with Sidney Crosby, so with him out again Dominik Simon will get a shot in that spot. Brassard is day-to-day.
Ullmark stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Sabres road win in Los Angeles last Saturday. Ullmark could work his way into more starts if he continues to play as well as he has through two games. Ullmark comes into Saturday at 2-0-0 while stopping 55 of the 56 shots (.982 SV%) that he has faced this year.
