The Ottawa Senators face a critical week ahead as they navigate wild card pressure, the return of a key goaltender, and ongoing injury concerns. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

Wild Card Race Intensifies

The Senators, currently holding a record of 23-20-7, find themselves in a tight battle for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. With the trade deadline approaching, the team needs to solidify its position. According to main Ottawa Senator insider, Bruce Garrioch, the Senators have to stick to the status quo, or tow that invisible line. Every game becomes crucial as they strive to gain ground in the standings. The Senators have 53 points, and are five points back of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ullmark's Return

Goalie Linus Ullmark has rejoined the team after taking a leave of absence since December 28 for personal reasons. He served as the backup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Coach Travis Green indicated Ullmark is "getting closer" to playing and doesn't expect his return to be far off. Mads Sogaard, who started against the Golden Knights, was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League. Hunter Shepard was reassigned to the AHL. Ullmark holds a 14-8-5 record with a 2.95 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage this season.

Ullmark was traded to Ottawa from the Bruins on June 24, 2024, for Mark Kastelic, Joonas Korpisalo, and a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He then signed a four-year, $33 million contract with Ottawa on October 9.

Injury Updates

The Senators are dealing with several injuries. Forward David Perron is sidelined for 5-7 weeks due to a sports hernia requiring surgery. Coach Green noted that this injury has been "nagging for a while". Additionally, Stephen Halliday left the game against the Golden Knights with an undisclosed injury. Denton Mateychuk is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Upcoming Schedule

After their recent game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Senators are preparing for upcoming home games. Their schedule includes a game against the Colorado Avalanche on January 28. Other home games include the Detroit Red Wings on February 26, the Montreal Canadiens on March 11, and the Anaheim Ducks on March 14.

Additional Notes

The Senators defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 7-1 on January 25. The Senators have been struggling with goaltending, holding the league's worst save percentage at .866. Also, the Senators don't have a first-round pick this season because they forfeited the pick.