Ottawa Senators News

The Senators are entrenched in an ugly four-game losing streak and will need Merilainen be a difference-maker on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 23-year-old Merilainen has an ugly 3.48 GAA and .866 SV% in 17 games this season (6-10-0). He has a 3.04 GAA and .826 SV% in his last four games (0-4-0). That said, the Senators enter Tuesday's contest as -220 home favorites against a struggling Canucks team that lost 6-3 to the Montreal Canadiens yesterday, extending their losing streak to seven games (0-5-2).

Halliday was a healthy scratch in Colorado on Thursday with Lars Eller returning to the lineup, so he returns to the AHL so he can play. Halliday has split his season between the AHL and NHL, tallying six assists in 18 games with Ottawa. He'll be one of the first forwards to get recalled when the Senators need a body in the future.

Matinpalo re-entered the lineup on Thursday and was a plus-1 in 19:40 TOI in a game where the Senators lost 8-2, but he'll come out of the lineup for Saturday's game vs. the Panthers. Nick Jensen will come back into the lineup to replace him.

Merilainen will somewhat surprisingly get the nod in goal for the second time in as many nights when the Sens travel to Denver on Thursday. Merilainen took the loss last night, giving up three goals on 21 shots in a 3-1 loss in Utah. The 23-year-old netminder has appeared in 15 games for the Senators this season, logging a 6-8-0 record and an .868 SV%. As you might expect, Merilainen and the Senators enter action on Thursday as massive underdogs at +225 on the money line.

With Linus Ullmark still on a leave of absence due to personal reasons, the Senators will again hand Merilainen the start when they travel to Utah on Wednesday. Merilainen struggled in his last start, allowing three goals on eight shots before being pulled as the Senators lost 5-3 to the Red Wings on Monday. The 23-year-old netminder has appeared in 14 games this season, logging a 6-7-0 record and an .869 SV%. The Sens enter action on Wednesday at +105 on the money line.

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).

Ersson will make his 15th start of the season when the Flyers travel to Calgary on New Year's Eve. The 26-year-old netminder secured the victory in his last start, stopping 20 of the 21 shots he faced in a 3-1 win in Chicago on December 23rd. Ersson brings a 6-4-4 record and an .872 SV% into Wednesday's matchup, where the Flyers enter action at +120 on the money line.

Tomasino had not played much this season, limited to only nine games with Pittsburgh, and will hope a change of scenery helps him find another gear in Phiadelphia. The 24-year-old forward has 95 points (34G / 61A) in 218 career NHL games.

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.

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.