Ottawa Senators News

The Senators have struggled defensively and between the pipes this season, outscored 30-20 through six games (2-4-0). Ullmark will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, looking to return closer to his career averages, a 2.57 GAA and .916 SV%. The 32-year-old goalie is sporting a subpar 3.99 GAA and .848 SV% through five games in 2025-26 (2-3-0). The Senators enter Tuesday's contest as +111 home underdogs against an Oilers team battling through adversity amid a three-game losing streak.

Kaliyev was recalled last week after and was immediately inserted into an opportunistic role, including some powerplay exposure, but will return to the Belleville Senators (AHL). The 24-year-old Kaliyev scored one point (0G / 1A) in two games with Ottawa.

Ullmark allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Senators' 4-3 shootout win over the Kraken on Thursday. The win snapped a two-game losing stream for Ullmark, who is now 2-2-0 with a 3.72 GAA and .862 SV% through four games. Ullmark should make for a good start, as -140 home favourites vs. the Islanders.

Kaliyev will make his Senators debut on Thursday when they host the Kraken. The 23-year-old winger appeared in 14 games for the Rangers last season, tallying three goals and one assist.

Ullmark has not impressed early in the 2025-26 season, which gave backup Leevi Merilainen an opportunity to showcase his talent on Wednesday, but he fell short, allowing seven goals on 26 shots (.731 SV%) in an 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old Ullmark will return to the crease on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. Ullmark has a 4.07 GAA and .842 SV% through three games this season (1-2-0). The Senators enter the action on Thursday as -141 home favorites against the Kraken.

The Flyers are off to a 1-1-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Ersson for his second start between the pipes. The 25-year-old Ersson was serviceable in his only outing this season, saving 35 of 39 shots (.897 SV%), but allowed the game-deciding goal late in overtime in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Goaltending counterpart Dan Vladar has been solid to start his Flyers' tenure, so Ersson will need to string together some consistent play if he hopes to increase his workload this season. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +120 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that is averaging 4.0 goals per game through three games this season (2-1-0).

Kaliyev signed with Ottawa in the offseason and started the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, tallying two points (0G / 2A) in two games with the Belleville Sentors. The 24-year-old is no stranger to the NHL, with 202 games of experience, mostly with the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 75 career points (38G / 37A).

Linus Ullmark has started Ottawa's first three games this season (1-2-0), but he will get the night off on Wednesday when Merilainen tends the twine for the first time this season. The 23-year-old Merilainen was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 appearances (8-3-1). Entering the 2025-26 season as the Senators' undisputed backup, the Finnish netminder should have no problem passing his career-high 11 starts from a season ago. The Senators enter Wednesday's action as -117 road favorites against a frustrated 0-3-0 Buffalo Sabres team that has been outscored 10-2.

Batherson has been sidelined for Ottawa's first three games this season, recovering from an upper-body injury, but will draw into the lineup for his season debut on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 27-year-old right-winger is entering his eighth season in Ottawa after putting up career highs in points (67) last season across 82 games played.

MacDermid appeared in Ottawa's first two games this season, averaging 4:30 time-on-ice and recording a five-minute major for fighting. The 31-year-old was limited to only 23 games last season, with the New Jersey Devils and returns to a familiar spot as a healthy scratch on Monday against the Nashville Predators, allowing Olle Lycksell to draw into the lineup.

Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence will make the Senators' season debut on Monday against the Nashville Predators, resulting in Nikolas Matinpalo and Donovan Sebrango to be healthy scratches. The 27-year-old Matinpalo has zero points and a -1 plus/minus rating through two games this season.

Donovan Sebrango and Nikolas Matinpalo will be healthy scratches on Ottawa's blueline on Monday against the Nashville Predators, allowing Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence to make their season debuts. The 24-year-old Spence played a career-high 79 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season, averaging 16:47 time-on-ice and scoring 28 points (4G / 24A), and will suit up in a Senators jersey on Monday for the first time.

Ullmark has showcased less-than-desirable results through two games this season (1-1-0), allowing 10 combined goals of 52 shots (.808 SV%), and hopes to rebound on Monday, tending the twine against the Nashville Predators. The 32-year-old Ullmark had a serviceable first season in Ottawa in 2024-25, posting a 2.72 GAA, .909 SV%, and four shutouts in 44 appearances (25-14-3). The Senators enter Monday's contest as -166 home favorites against the Predators.

Donovan Sebrango and Nikolas Matinpalo will be healthy scratches on Ottawa's blueline on Monday against the Nashville Predators, allowing Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence to make their season debuts. The 23-year-old Kleven played a career-high 79 games last season, averaging 14:28 time-on-ice and scoring 10 points (4G / 6A).

The Senators will start their season on Thursday with Ullmark tending the twine against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old Ullmark battled some injuries in his first season with the Senators but was solid when called upon, posting a 2.72 GAA, .909 SV%, and four shutouts in 44 outings (25-14-3). Still, the Senators enter Thursday's contest as +154 road underdogs against a Lightning team that led the league offensively last season (3.59 GF/GP).