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.
With Linus Ullmark (personal) away from the team, Merilainen will jump into the starting position, beginning with Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Merilainen was serviceable in relief of Ullmark in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The 23-year-old goalie has a 3.43 GAA and .874 SV% in 10 games this season (4-6-0). The Senators enter Monday's contest as sizable -207 home favorites against a Blue Jackets team that played last night, winning 4-2 over the New York Islanders.
With Linus Ullmark on a personal leave of absence, Ottawa has recalled Shepard from Belleville (AHL) to serve as Leevi Merilainen's backup. The 30-year-old Shepard has a 3.16 GAA and .905 SV% in 11 games (5-5-1) with Belleville this season.
Bourgault was a first-round pick (No.22 overall) in 2021 and will finally make his NHL debut on Saturday after 210 career AHL games. This season, Bourgault has 27 points (9G / 18A) in 32 games with Belleville. He'll start his NHL career on the Senators' fourth line.
Ullmark allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Senators' overtime loss to the Sabres on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Ullmark, who has gone 5-2-1 with a. 2.26 GAA and .908 SV% in eight starts in December. Tonight he gets the start in Toronto, where the Senators are -129 road favourites.
Gilbert has played in just one game with the Senators since being acquired from the Flyers in mid-November. He's spent most of his time with Belleville, where he has five assists in seven games.
Bourgault is second on Belleville in scoring this season, picking up 27 points (9G / 18A) in 32 games. The 23-year-old was a first-round pick in 2021 but did not make his NHL debut with the Oilers and has yet to play for the Senators.
Eller was set to miss his seventh straight game on Saturday, so his move to IR simply created a roster spot for Xavier Bourgault to be recalled from the AHL. Eller is expected to miss at least a couple more weeks with a broken foot.
Ullmark has had a shaky 2025-26 season, posting a 2.85 GAA and .884 SV% in 26 games. That said, the 32-year-old goalie is amid his best stretch of the season, winning four straight while posting an impressive 1.85 GAA and .928 SV%. The Senators enter the action on Wednesday as -152 home favorites against a surging Buffalo Sabres team that is on a season-best six-game winning streak.
Ullmark has had a shaky 2025-26 season, posting a 2.85 GAA and .884 SV% in 26 games. That said, the 32-year-old goalie is amid his best stretch of the season, winning four straight while posting an impressive 1.85 GAA and .928 SV%. The Senators enter the action on Wednesday as -152 home favorites against a surging Buffalo Sabres team that is on a season-best six-game winning streak.
