The NHL has issued an unprecedented 41-game suspension for Shane Pinto for activities relating to sports wagering, the first suspension for gambling in hockey in 75 years. Pinto, currently without a contract after unsuccessful offseason negotiations, would be eligible to return on January 21, 2024. The Senators forward had 35 points (20G / 15A) in 82 games last season.
Ottawa Senators News
The Bruins' goaltending duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have paved the way for their 6-0-0 start to the season. Ullmark is proving that last year's Vezina trophy was not a fluke as he has a 1.00 GAA and .962 SV%. A league-best 1.17 goals allowed per game for the Bruins has overshadowed any expected shortcomings after losing key offensive pieces in the offseason. The Bruins are expected to keep the winning streak going as they are massive -303 home favourites against the Anaheim Ducks.
Jenik served as a healthy scratch for the Coyotes Tuesday after being called up on Monday afternoon. Jenik has since been reassigned to the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL, where he has three points (1G / 2A) in three games this season.
In game six of the season for the Ottawa Senators, Forsberg will start for the third time. In two games (2-0-0), Forsberg has registered a 1.50 GAA and .933 SV%, clearly outperforming his counterpart, Joonas Korpisalo, thus far. Forsberg will hope to further cement himself as the early-season favourite in net for the Senators as they face off against a Buffalo Sabres team that suffered a 3-1 loss last night and is averaging only 2.17 goals scored per game. The Senators are listed as -179 home favourites tonight.
In game six of the season for the Ottawa Senators, Forsberg will start for the third time. In two games (2-0-0), Forsberg has registered a 1.50 GAA and .933 SV%, clearly outperforming his counterpart, Joonas Korpisalo, thus far. Forsberg will hope to further cement himself as the early-season favourite in net for the Senators as they face off against a Buffalo Sabres team that suffered a 3-1 loss last night and is averaging only 2.17 goals scored per game. The Senators are listed as -179 home favourites tonight.
Jenik has already played two games for the Coyotes this season, going without a point and registering four hits and four penalty minutes. Jenik and Zach Sanford, who were both called up on Monday, are both candidates to cycle in and out of the lineup as Jason Zucker will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Zub will miss his second consecutive game as he recovers from an upper-body injury. Zub was off to a hot start this season, recording three points (1G / 2A), nine blocks, and eight shots in four games. Jacob Bernard-Docker was recalled by the Senators and should continue filling in for Zub on defence.
Bernard-Docker was recalled by Ottawa after a brief two-game stint with Belleville (AHL) where he had zero points and a +1 plus/minus rating. The 26th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has two points (0G / 2A) in 33 career NHL games across the last four seasons. He is projected to play alongside Thomas Chabot on the Senators' third defensive pairing.
Ullmark returns to the Bruins crease after Jeremy Swayman got the nod for Saturday night's game in Los Angeles. Ullmark is off to another fantastic start this season, boasting a 2-0-0 record to go along with a .958 SV% and a 1.00 GAA. The 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner is in a great spot to pick up another victory tonight, with Boston being a sizable favourite on the moneyline at -250.
Bernard-Docker did not pick up a point in his two games played with Belleville (AHL) but has been recalled to Ottawa Friday. The 23-year-old defensemen cleared waivers after not originally making the Senators' roster but with the recent injury to Artem Sub will find himself back up with the big club. In 19 games in 2022-23 he had one assist, 11 PIMs, 22 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus with Ottawa.
MacEwen was placed on waivers Thursday but cleared and has officially been reassigned to Belleville (AHL). The 26-year-old enforcer had an assist, two SOG, and a +1 plus/minus in two games played in 2023-24 while averaging only 6:38 TOI on the Senators' fourth line. He was signed to a three-year, $2.325 million contract ($775,000 AAV) by the Ottawa in the offseason.
Zub left the Senators' previous game after just 19 shifts and 14:11 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and is now expected to be out for their game Saturday vs. Detroit. The 28-year-old has started off 2023-24 with a bang, picking up a goal, two assists, two SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games so far this season.
Ullmark will start his second game of the season as the Bruins will attempt to start on a three-game winning streak when they face off against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Picking up where he left off with his Vezina-winning 2022-23 campaign, Ullmark saved 20 of 21 shots for a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in his season debut. The Bruins should be able to continue their hot start to the season as they are a -266 road favourite over the Sharks on Thursday.
The Senators have an early-season goalie rotation in effect as Forsberg will get the start for the second time in four games. In his first start of the season, Forsberg wasn't heavily tested but managed to save 19 of 21 shots, aiding the Senators to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. If the Senators can continue getting strong performances from both netminders, they will likely continue to rotate starts to keep them both fresh. The Senators are -170 home favourites tonight against a Washington Capitals team that has only scored twice in their first two games (1-1-0). A season ago, Forsberg shut the door in his only matchup against the Capitals, saving 22 of 24 shots in a 5-2 victory.
An early-season setback in his return from an ongoing shoulder injury created some pessimism in Norris' likelihood to return to the lineup but after only three missed games, he will make his season debut Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Norris only played eight games last season, recording three points (1G / 2A), but has 93 points (54G / 39A) in his 133-game career. He is projected to line up at even strength with Dominik Kubalik and Drake Batherson and re-assume his position on the top powerplay unit.
The Senators have an early-season goalie rotation in effect as Forsberg will likely get the start for the second time in four games. In his first start of the season, Forsberg wasn't heavily tested but managed to save 19 of 21 shots, aiding the Senators to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. If the Senators can continue getting strong performances from both netminders, they will likely continue to rotate starts to keep them both fresh. The Senators are -170 home favourites tonight against a Washington Capitals team that has only scored twice in their first two games (1-1-0). A season ago, Forsberg shut the door in his only matchup against the Capitals, saving 22 of 24 shots in a 5-2 victory.
Joonas Korpisalo started the Senators' season opener, but they will turn to Forsberg in their second game of the season. Last year, Forsberg wasn't nearly as good as he was in 2021-22, going 11-11-2 with a 3.26 GAA and .902 SV% in 28 games (25 starts). This afternoon he'll face a Flyers team the won their season opener in Columbus.
The Senators had to play one man short in their season opener because MacEwen was out, but he'll make his season debut on Saturday, giving the Senators a full lineup. MacEwen split his 2022-23 season between the Flyers and Kings, posting 10 points (4G / 6A), 150 hits, 66 PIMS and a minus-11 rating in 55 games.