Ottawa Senators News

Ersson stopped 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) to stay undefeated and pick up his second straight victory with a win over Los Angeles in his last start. The 23-year-old has done enough while filling in for an injured Carter Hart, with his 2-0-0 record, 3.58 GAA and .885 SV%. He will take on Anaheim, who has lost four of their last five games after a 6-1 loss to Nashville in their last game.

Zub has two goals, two assists, 15 SOG, and 10 PIMs through 14 games prior to his injury and will return to the lineup Saturday as he has recovered from a broken jaw.

Blais has five assists, 26 SOG and a +4 plus/minus in 30 games and will draw back into the lineup Thursday after being a healthy scratch for the Rangers' last two games. He will replace Alexis Lafreniere who is a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Ersson was shelled for five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in the only start of his career, a loss to Carolina his last time out. The 23-year-old will be hoping for better fortunes in his second start of the year as he replaces Carter Hart (concussion) for the time being. He will be looking to pick up his first career win as he takes on the San Jose Sharks, who have lost four of their last five games after a 6-2 loss to Vancouver in their last game.

Spence has two goals, 19 assists, and 18 PIMs in 22 games with Ontario (AHL) but will head back up to Los Angeles where he will be looking to pick up his first point of the season after previously playing three games with the Kings earlier in the season.

Ersson will make his NHL debut Friday after going 9-8-1 with a 2.72 GAA and a .910 SV% with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). He draws the tough first task of the Carolina Hurricanes, who are in the middle of a seven-game winning streak.

Stutzle has missed the Senators' previous four games as he's dealt with a shoulder injury and will play Thursday vs. the Capitals. When he returns it will be a massive boost for Ottawa, as he has 10 goals, 17 assists, 67 SOG and 20 PIMs through 28 games played.

Ullmark stopped 36 of 39 shots (.923 SV%) as he beat the Florida Panthers in his previous start to add to his league lead in wins. The 29-year-old leads all Vezina Trophy voting as he leads the league in all major categories, with his 18-1-1 record, league-leading 1.89 GAA as well as leading .937 SV%. He will face the New Jersey Devils, who snapped a six-game losing skid with a 4-2 win over Florida in their last game.

Stutzle has missed the Senators' previous four games as he's dealt with a shoulder injury and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. the Capitals. If he does return, it will be a massive boost for Ottawa, as he has 10 goals, 17 assists, 67 SOG and 20 PIMs through 28 games played.

Ersson has a 9-8-1 record, .910 SV% and 2.70 GAA with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) but has been recalled Wednesday as it was announced Felix Sandstrom will miss the upcoming road trip due to illness. He will likely make his NHL debut either Thursday or Friday as Philadelphia has a back-to-back situation.

Zub has two goals, two assists, 10 PIMs, and 15 SOG while averaging 22:01 ATOI across 14 games played and will now be signed in the Nation's capital for four more years, at an average of $4.6 million per year. The 27-year-old has 11 goals, 29 assists, 96 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus across 142 career games played in three NHL seasons.

MacDermid has been out since Nov. 12th due to a lower-body injury but will return to Colorado's lineup Monday. Prior to the injury, the bruising defensemen had one assist, 14 PIMs and just three SOG through eight games played.