Ottawa Senators News

Shepard takes Mads Sogaard's spot on the Senators' roster and figures to backup Leevi Merilainen on Saturday. Shepard has gone 5-6-1 with a 3.41 GAA and .897 SV% in 12 AHL games this season.

Sogaard played briefly in Colorado on Thursday and it went terribly. After replacing Leevi Merilainen, Sogaard allowed five goals on 16 shots and was replaced by Merilainen. Hunter Shepard was recalled from the AHL to take Sogaard's spot on the the roster.

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.

Jensen was a healthy scratch during the Senators' loss in Colorado on Thursday, but he will replace Nikolas Matinpalo in the lineup on Saturday. Jensen will be reunited with Thomas Chabot on the Senators' second-pairing.

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.

Eller has not played in nearly a month, but is nearing his return after being activated from Injured Reserve. The veteran 36-year-old forward has six points (2G / 4A) in 28 games this season, but had been held off the scoresheet in 16 straight games before his injury.

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.

Shepard has exclusively served as Leevi Merilainen's backup while Linus Ullmark (personal) has been away from the team, but he will return to Belleville (AHL), with Mads Sogaard coming back in a corresponding move. The 30-year-old Shepard has a 3.16 GAA and .905 SV% in 11 games (5-5-1) with Belleville this season.

With Linus Ullmark (personal) away from the team, the Senators have relied exclusively on Leevi Merilainen, with Hunter Shepard serving as his backup. Sogaard has more NHL experience than Shepard, so Shepard's reassignment to Belleville (AHL) with Sogaard returning could indicate that Ottawa plans to give Merilainen a rest in an upcoming game. The 25-year-old Sogaard has a 3.55 GAA and .879 SV% in 29 career NHL appearances (11-11-3).

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).

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.