Bruce Garrioch just reported that Senators goalie Linus Ullmark has been removed from injured reserve and is back on the regular roster.
Ullmark had been listed with a lower-body injury, and the latest injury report had him out until at least Nov. 10. Ottawa sits 11-6-1, fourth in the Atlantic Division, so the timing matters.
Garrioch noted that Ullmark is back on the regular roster.
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Coming off IR is not the same as starting. Nothing in the post says when Ullmark will play, and we won't guess. What it does mean is that Andrew Campbell has his number one option available again as Ottawa heads into a Tuesday date with the Jets.
Samuel Ersson held the fort last night. He made 30 saves on 32 shots in the 4-2 win over Utah, the Senators' second straight victory.
Ullmark has 8 games played this season. He is 33, a sixth-round pick of the Sabres in 2012, and has 348 regular-season games on his résumé.
Who starts in net for Ottawa now?
Campbell has a nice problem, and he should treat it that way. With the team winning and Ersson fresh off a solid night, there's no reason to rush a goalie back into the crease just because the IR tag is gone.
Ullmark is the established name, but Ersson has earned another look until the coaching staff is sure the injury is behind him. A lower-body issue can linger, and a goalie who is 80 percent is a risk the Senators don't need to take in a tight Atlantic race.
The Senators were 5-4-1 over their last 10 games before the weekend streak, so the margin for error isn't wide. A clean handoff matters.
Ottawa hosts Winnipeg on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and that is the first date to watch for any sign of who gets the net.
Quick hits
WINNIPEG JETS: Scott Arniel just said Josh Morrissey will not return tonight against Tampa Bay, a reversal from what was expected. The Jets stay without their top defenseman for another game.
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GOALIE MATCHUP: FlaHockeyNow reports Jacob Markstrom is projected to start for the Panthers this afternoon in Boston. The Bruins are sticking with Jeremy Swayman, so it's a classic goalie duel on paper.
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DETROIT RED WINGS: The team announced this morning that Nate Danielson, Michal Postava and John Leonard were assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Three moves before St. Louis, and Danielson's name stands out.
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CALGARY FLAMES: RotoWire reports Devin Cooley is making his return start tonight as the Flames host the Flyers. It's a big chance for him in front of the home crowd.
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FLORIDA PANTHERS: Tom Wilson won't face supplemental discipline for his hit on Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis, Elliotte Friedman reported this morning. Expect Florida fans to have plenty to say about that one.
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Should the Senators ease Ullmark back in behind Ersson instead of handing him the net right away?
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