Ottawa Senators News

With Dan Vladar (lower-body) still injured for at least one more game, Samuel Ersson draws the tough task of taking on the Colorado Avalanche in Colorado on Friday. Ersson's nightmare season will hopefully take a break on Friday as he looks to post a save percentage above .900 for just the second time in his last 8 starts. His .858 SV% ranks among the lowest in the NHL through 21 appearances this season. He will take on the surprisingly cold Colorado Avalanche on Friday, who, despite having the NHL's best record, have lost three of their last four games.

With Dan Vladar (lower-body) still injured for at least one more game, Samuel Ersson draws the tough task of taking on the Colorado Avalanche in Colorado on Friday. Ersson's nightmare season will hopefully take a break on Friday as he looks to post a save percentage above .900 for just the second time in his last 8 starts. His .858 SV% ranks among the lowest in the NHL through 21 appearances this season. He will take on the surprisingly cold Colorado Avalanche on Friday, who, despite having the NHL's best record, have lost three of their last four games.

Halliday made his NHL debut earlier this season, recording six points (0G / 6A) in 18 games, but has split time with Belleville (AHL). The 23-year-old Halliday was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He will draw into the lineup for an injured David Perron (sports hernia).

Halliday made his NHL debut earlier this season, recording six points (0G / 6A) in 18 games, but has split time with Belleville (AHL). The 23-year-old Halliday was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Dan Vladar (lower body) is nearing a return from injury, but Ersson will stay between the pipes for at least one more game. The 26-year-old Ersson has had a miserable season, but is coming off his best performance thus far, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He has a 3.34 GAA and .847 SV% in his last nine games (2-6-1). The Flyers enter Wednesday’s contest as +154 road underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that has outscored its opposition 14-5 during a three-game winning streak.

James Reimer was serviceable in his Ottawa debut on Sunday, evidently giving the team enough trust in him to send Merilainen down to Belleville (AHL). The 23-year-old Merilainen has had a terrible season in Ottawa, which has been even worse since Linus Ullmark (personal) has been away from the team, posting a dreadful 3.27 GAA and .843 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1).

Burakovsky has been absent from practice and will miss Monday's game against the Winnipeg Jets due to an illness. The 30-year-old Burakovsky snapped a four-game scoreless skid with an assist in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. He has 30 points (10G / 20A) in 43 games this season.

Still without Dan Vladar (undisclosed), Ersson will return to the crease for the Flyers on Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Flyers have relied heavily on Vladar and now find themselves on a six-game losing streak without him (0-5-1). The 26-year-old Ersson has an abysmal 4.02 GAA and .792 SV% in his last five outings (0-5-0). The Flyers enter Monday's contest as +191 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has scored four or more goals in six of their last seven games (7-0-0).

Burakovsky has been absent from practice and could be at risk of missing Monday's game against the Winnipeg Jets due to an illness. The 30-year-old Burakovsky snapped a four-game scoreless skid with an assist in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. He has 30 points (10G / 20A) in 43 games this season.

Ullmark has not played in over three weeks due to personal reasons, but appears to be nearing a return. The 32-year-old goalie has a 2.95 GAA and .881 SV% in 28 games this season (14-8-5), and it is unclear when he might be between the pipes again. Leevi Merilainen has almost exclusively seen all of the action in Ottawa's crease during Ullmark's absence.

Ersson has struggled this season and lost the trust of the Flyers' coaching staff, but with Dan Vladar (undisclosed) sidelined, he could have an opportunity to earn some more playing time, starting with Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old Ersson has lost seven of his last eight outings (1-5-2), posting an abysmal 3.63 GAA and .840 SV%. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +149 road underdogs against the Penguins.

Even on the tail-end of a back-to-back, the Sens opt against giving James Reimer his team debut and instead will hand Merilainen his second start in as many nights. Merilainen was sharp in Tuesday's win over the Canucks, stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced enroute to the 2-1 victory. The 23-year-old netminder has been inconsistent at best when called upon this season, posting a 7-10-0 record and an .870 SV% across 18 appearances. The Senators enter action on Wednesday at -115 on the money line.

Ullmark has not played in over two weeks due to personal reasons, but appears to be nearing a return. The 32-year-old goalie has a 2.95 GAA and .881 SV% in 28 games this season (14-8-5), and it is unclear when he might be between the pipes again. The Senators signed goalie James Reimer earlier this week to add some depth in the crease during Ullmark's absence.