The Ottawa Senators' goaltending situation has reached a critical point, with the team's top netminder, Linus Ullmark, still absent and no firm date set for his return. Ullmark, who left the club for personal reasons on December 27, was spotted at the Canadian Tire Centre on Monday, January 6, watching his team's 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings from a private box. However, his presence as a spectator does not signal an imminent comeback to the ice.
Organizational Support with No Timetable
Steve Staios, the Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, has emphasized that the organization is providing Ullmark with all the necessary time and support. "He will receive all the time and support he needs from the organization before making a return," Staios stated over the weekend. While seeing Ullmark at the arena is a positive step, the club has offered no concrete timeline for his return, a significant concern during the busiest month of the NHL season.
On-Ice Struggles Exacerbated by Absence
Ullmark's leave has magnified the Senators' existing struggles between the pipes. In the game he watched, the team's performance highlighted the very issues plaguing them all season. Despite a strong first-period effort where they outshot Detroit 17-9, the Senators found themselves down 3-0 due largely to shaky goaltending and costly turnovers.
Backup Leevi Merilainen, thrust into the starting role, was pulled after allowing four goals on just nine shots. The 23-year-old's season statistics reflect the team's broader crisis: he ranks 77th in the NHL with an .869 save percentage and 76th with a 3.69 goals-against average, holding a 6-7-0 record in 13 appearances. Veteran Hunter Shepard, with only six NHL games to his name, offers little proven relief.
A Season of Challenges and a Call for Help
Ullmark's own season has been difficult, starting 28 of Ottawa's first 37 games and posting a 2.95 goals-against average with an .881 save percentage. The Senators as a team sit dead last in the league with an .872 save percentage. In response to the deepening crisis, Staios recalled goaltender Mads Sogaard from the AHL's Belleville Senators to accompany the team on a critical two-game road trip against the Utah Mammoth and the Colorado Avalanche.
Merilainen is expected to start one of those games, with Sogaard likely getting the other. The city of Ottawa is understandably worried, facing a pivotal stretch in the schedule with immense uncertainty in the most important position on the ice. The organization and its fans are left hoping for Ullmark's swift return while the current netminders search for a way to stabilize their play.
