- The Senators placed Linus Ullmark on injured reserve with a lower-body injury
- Ullmark must miss at least a week, and Jonas Johansson was recalled from Belleville
- Read below for how Samuel Ersson’s early numbers make this a problem for Ottawa
Linus Ullmark is going on injured reserve, and the Senators are about to lean on a backup who hasn’t been good.
Ottawa placed the goalie on IR with a lower-body injury Thursday morning, a day after he was helped off the ice in a 5-1 win over the Panthers. Ullmark has to sit out at least a week, per Daily Faceoff, and the team hasn’t put a firm timeline on his return.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported the IR move, per Pro Hockey Rumors. The Senators then announced that Johansson has been recalled from the AHL to back up Ersson. Here’s the team’s roster update:
Ullmark went down in the third period Wednesday after making a routine pad save. He needed help getting to the dressing room, and Ersson stopped the only shot he faced the rest of the way. Here’s the moment from Sportsnet:
The timing hurts because Ullmark has been one of the best goalies in the league. He’s 7-1-0 with a .945 save percentage and a 1.33 goals-against average, which puts him in the early Vezina conversation.
Ersson is the problem. The offseason pickup from Philadelphia is 0-2 with an .831 save percentage and a 4.70 GAA, and he gets the start Thursday night against the Sharks.
Johansson, who Ottawa picked up from Tampa Bay in the summer, will serve as the backup. Pro Hockey Rumors noted that Ullmark was pulled out of caution earlier this month after a bump from JJ Peterka, a hit that landed in the same area.
Ullmark is on a four-year deal worth $8.25 million per season. We covered the original injury here, and the Senators won’t be able to coast on the goaltending while he’s out.
