After being removed from Saturday’s loss in Toronto, allowing four goals on 14 Maple Leafs’ shots, Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark was not on the ice for a noon practice Sunday.
Per Senators head coach Travis Green; Jake Sanderson, Tim Stützle and Ullmark were all absent from practice due to “maintenance.”
A couple of hours later, the club issued a statement with Senators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios announcing Linus Ullmark will be taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons. Staios added, “Linus has the full support of our organization during this time. Out of respect to Linus, we will not be making any further comments.”
Prior to Saturday’s outing, Ullmark’s game appeared to be rounding out after a slow beginning to the season. The goaltender was on a 4-0-1 run, posting 2.48 goals against average, .918 save percentage over his previous five starts which included a shutout.
Hockey HotStove sends our thoughts to Linus Ullmark and his family during this time.
With Ullmark on leave, the Senators crease belongs to Leevi Merilainen for the foreseeable future. The 23-year-old is still a work in progress in establishing his NHL game. Last season, Merilainen stepped in last season when Ullmark missed time with injury. The Finn recorded an impressive 8-3-1 record, 1.99 GAA, .925 Sv Pct, adding three shutouts in 2024-25 for the Senators. This season, Merilainen’s numbers are subpar to date, 4-6-0 mark in nine starts, 3.43 GAA, .874 Sv Pct.
Unless the Senators GM makes a quick transaction, Mads Sogaard who earned a 31-save shutout for Belleville Sunday is the likely recall from the Senators American League affiliate. The shutout versus the Utica Devils was Sogaard’s first in two seasons. Once considered one of the organization’s best prospects, the 25-year-old limited to only 11 games last season due to injuries, has made 12 starts in 2025-26 for the “BSens”, victorious in two.
Pinto and Kleven to return?
The Senators head coach told assembled media Sunday, Shane Pinto and defenseman Tyler Kleven are “possibilities” to return pending “medical evaluation” Monday when the team meets the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Pinto collided with forner Senator Mika Zibanejad in a December 4 meeting with the New York Rangers and has missed 10 games. At the time of his injury, Pinto led the Senators in goals (12) while fulfilling a shutdown centre role playing in all situations.
Kleven missed the past three games due to a leg/ankle injury which was re-aggravated.
Forward Xavier Bourgault and d-man Dennis Gilbert were loaned to Belleville Sunday evening signifying the returns to the NHL roster for Pinto and Kleven.
“Took a little time to let my injury heal up a little bit. I didn’t think that it was in a spot where I thought that I could perform my best. And it took a little bit of time here and a lot of treatment, and just wanted to come back go feeling like I was close to 100%,” Kleven upon returning to practice.
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Bourgault debuts for NHL Senators
It was a long time coming for Xavier Bourgault who made his NHL debut Saturday in Toronto. The Edmonton Oilers 2021 22nd overall Entry Draft selection played his first NHL game in front of his family Saturday evening. Credited with three shots on goal, the 23-year-old didn’t look out of place in 6:43 of ice-time.
Bourgault told Hockey HotStove his debut, was “just a dream come true, like the whole day, like the whole night, was pretty fun. And I was waiting for this one for a long time, four years. I worked hard. It’s the second organization for me, so I have to prove myself again. Worked hardon a good start back in Belleville.”
The native of L’Islet, QC registered nine goals, 18 assists in 32 games this for Belleville.
Bourgault had the luxury of playing the wing on a line with his sometime Belleville Senators teammate Stephen Halliday, “We were playing together at the beginning of the season, so I wasn’t lost on the ice. I think we had a pretty good chemistry too out there. So yeah, it was easier and knowing a guy, coming on a new team, it’s always fun. So yeah, I was pretty happy to play with him.”
Bourgault had a whirlwind few days. Driving home from Belleville to see his family in Quebec City for the holiday break. Then Bourgault drove to Toronto where Belleville faced the Marlies on Boxing Day, returning to Belleville post-game, then headed back to Toronto to make his NHL debut.
Halliday improving daily
Stephen Halliday played his best game offensively for the Senators Saturday earning two pair of assists. Travis Green put him on the ice when trailing in the third period to add offense and he did just that. .
“He’s progressing. As a young player coming into the league, you want to trust players. You know as a coach, they’re going to make mistakes. I’m not looking for mistake-free hockey. But I think he’s shown a willingness to play physical which is outside his nature to go through people in his own zone. I liked him more than other (in Toronto). I thought he look he looked sharp,” expressed Green to Hockey HotStove.
Halliday who’s from the Toronto area is still seeking his first NHL tally, but does has recorded five assists in 14 games played.
