Nikolas Matinpalo will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Spence to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 24-year-old Spence has been impressive offensively in his first season with the Senators, scoring four points (0G / 4A) in four games.
Olle Lycksell will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing MacDermid to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 31-year-old MacDermid is averaging 5:28 time-on-ice and has seven penalty minutes in four games.
Ottawa leads the league with 41 goals this season, an impressive stat mitigated by the fact that they have allowed an Eastern Conference-worst 44 goals. Goaltending has been an issue for the Senators early in the 2025-26 season, highlighted by an ugly 3.44 GAA and .858 SV% that Ullmark is sporting through nine games (4-4-1). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -158 home favorites against a league-worst Calgary Flames team (2-8-1) that is being outscored 39-24.
Shepard was recalled from Belleville (AHL) on Monday to serve as the backup to Leevi Merilainen, allowing Linus Ullmark to rest before returning to the crease on Tuesday. The undrafted Shedpard played one NHL game with the Washington Capitals last season but spent most of the campaign in the AHL, posting a 2.80 GAA and .891 SV% in 39 games (23-11-4) with the Hershey Bears.
Ullmark had the night off on Monday, with the recently recalled Hunter Shepard serving as Leevi Merilainen's backup, but he returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Ullmark has had an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.11 GAA and .870 SV% in eight games (4-3-1), but has been excellent in his last two games (2-0-0), saving 34 of 36 combined shots (.944 SV%).
Ottawa recalled Hunter Shepard from Belleville (AHL) on Monday to serve as the backup to Merilainen, as the team opts to give Linus Ullmark the night off on the front end of a back-to-back. Merilainen was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.99 GGA and .925 SV% in 12 appearances (8-3-1), but struggled immensely in his only outing this season, allowing seven goals on 26 shots (.731 SV%) in a blowout 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Senators enter Monday's contest as -167 home favorites against a Boston Bruins team coming off a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Ottawa's coaching staff emphasized that there is no injury to Linus Ullmark, but he will have the day off on Monday, with the recently recalled Shepard serving as the backup to Leevi Merilainen. Ullmark is scheduled to return to the crease on Tuesday, at which point Shepard will likely return to Belleville (AHL).
The Senators have struggled early in the 2025-26 season, allowing a league-worst 33 goals through seven games (4.71 GA / GP). Poor defensive play has been the main contributor to the Senators' lackluster start, but Ullmark has failed to impress as well, posting an ugly 3.80 GAA and .854 SV% through six games (2-3-1). The Senators hope to rebound on Thursday, entering the contest as -156 home favorites against a Philadelphia Flyers team off to a 3-2-1 start to the season.
Sogaard was recalled by Ottawa last week, sending Leevi Merilainen to Belleville (AHL) for some increased playing time. After two games in the AHL, Merilainen is returning to Ottawa, sending Sogaard back to Belleville.
Merilainen started the season in Ottawa, had a poor performance in his only outing, and was sent to Belleville (AHL), where he posted a 3.50 GAA and .897 SV% in two games (1-1-0). He returns to Ottawa, with Mads Sogaard being reassigned to the AHL in a corresponding move.
The Senators have struggled defensively and between the pipes this season, outscored 30-20 through six games (2-4-0). Ullmark will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, looking to return closer to his career averages, a 2.57 GAA and .916 SV%. The 32-year-old goalie is sporting a subpar 3.99 GAA and .848 SV% through five games in 2025-26 (2-3-0). The Senators enter Tuesday's contest as +111 home underdogs against an Oilers team battling through adversity amid a three-game losing streak.
Kaliyev was recalled last week after and was immediately inserted into an opportunistic role, including some powerplay exposure, but will return to the Belleville Senators (AHL). The 24-year-old Kaliyev scored one point (0G / 1A) in two games with Ottawa.
