Hamonic has not played since February 27th, missing 10 games with a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 33-year-old defenseman has six points (2G / 4A), 51 hits, and 74 blocks in 47 games this season.
After a 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins with Joonas Korpisalo between the pipes on Tuesday, the Senators will turn to Forsberg on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Forsberg didn't fare any better in his last outing, allowing seven goals on 38 shots (.816 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Senators, outscored 13-4 in their last two games (0-2-0), enter action as -126 home favourites against the Blues.
Gregor was a healthy scratch for the first half of the Maple Leafs' back-to-back on Tuesday but will draw back into the lineup for the injured Ryan Reaves (eye) on Wednesday. The 25-year-old centre signed with Toronto this season after a successful PTO and has provided a solid bottom-six option with five goals, 11 points, 99 SOG, 17 PIMs and -7 plus/minus through 56 games played.
The Bruins have won four of their last five and will turn to Ullmark between the crease on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Ullmark has been exceptional lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three straight (2-0-1), including saving 56 of 58 shots faced (.966 SV%) over his last two games. The Bruins enter action as sizeable -227 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators.
Rees has appeared in 37 games between Charlotte (AHL) and Springfield (AHL) this season and collected only four assists and 18 PIMs in both stints and has been acquired by Ottawa for a 2024 sixth-round pick on Friday. The 23-year-old left-winger was originally Carolina's 2019 2nd-round pick (44th overall) and will now provide organizational depth for the Senators as the AHL trade deadline closed on Friday.
Bongiovanni is an undrafted 24-year-old from Mississippi who has spent the past three seasons with the Manitoba Moose (AHL). In 34 games this season, Bongiovanni has 15 points (8G / 7A) with Manitoba.
The Bruins suffered a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Monday and will switch to Ullmark between the pipes on Thursday. Despite only one victory in his last two starts (1-0-1), Ullmark has been sensational, allowing only three goals on 65 combined shots (.954 SV%). The Bruins enter action as sizeable -206 road favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that handily defeated 9-4 in January.
The Senators are coming off a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, snapping a seven-game losing skid, courtesy of Joonas Korpisalo, but they will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Thursday. Forsberg has not played since March 1st, when he allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. That said, the Senators enter action as -120 road favourites against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Smejkal played the last three games with Ottawa, averaging just over seven minutes of ice time while recording four shots and five hits. The Czech forward has spent most of his season with the Belleville Senators, tallying 19 points (8G / 11A) in 39 games.
Ostapchuk was the 39th overall pick of the Senators in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old Ostapchuk is in his first professional season and has tallied 22 points (13G / 9A) in 56 with the Belleville Senators (AHL). He is expected to make his debut on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh.
Norris missed the majority of the previous two seasons due to ongoing shoulder issues and will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season after undergoing shoulder surgery again. The 24-year-old Norris ends the season with 30 points (16G / 14A) in 50 games.
With Matthew Highmore injured, Ottawa recalled Smejkal from Belleville (AHL). Smejkal played nine games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of his time with Belleville, tallying 19 points (8G / 11A) in 39 games.
With Thomas Chabot injured, Ottawa recalled Guenette from Belleville (AHL). Guenette played two games with Ottawa earlier this season but has spent most of his time with Belleville, scoring 29 points (5G / 24A) in 49 games.
Sogaard started the last two games for Ottawa, both losing efforts and will return to the Belleville Senators of the AHL. Sogaard allowed two goals on 16 shots (.875 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
Highmore was recalled from Belleville (AHL) on Wednesday and drew into Ottawa's lineup, tallying one assist before exiting the game with an upper-body injury after 6:06 time-on-ice. The undrafted 28-year-old has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 40 games with Belleville this season.
Chabot has been battling a lower-body injury for the past several games and will be out after being re-evaluated before Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. Chabot has one point (1G / 0A) in his past five games after scoring five (3G / 2A) in his previous three. Max Guenette will likely draw into the lineup in Chabot's absence.
