In a surprising turn of events, Anton Forsberg is set to make his second consecutive start for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday as they face off against the New Jersey Devils. This decision comes after Linus Ullmark skated for about 40 minutes on Thursday morning but ultimately will not be dressing for the game against the Devils.
To fill Ullmark’s absence, the Senators have recalled Mads Sogaard from the AHL’s Belleville Senators, who will serve as the backup for Forsberg once again. Sogaard was brought in as an emergency recall on Wednesday and played a crucial role in the team’s win on Monday after replacing Forsberg in net.
Speaking of Monday’s game, Forsberg had a rocky start, allowing three goals on just nine shots before being replaced by Sogaard, who managed to stop 12 of 16 shots in relief. Head coach Green had previously mentioned that Ullmark was dealing with a “strain,” but there was uncertainty about his return timeline. However, there is hope that he could be back in time for Thursday’s matchup.
The injury setback has dampened the excitement surrounding Ullmark’s arrival in Ottawa. The talented goalie was acquired from the Boston Bruins in June and recently signed a lucrative four-year, $33 million contract extension with the Senators. Despite his injury, Ullmark has shown promise in his short time with the team, boasting a .914 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average in two games.
Meanwhile, the Senators are off to a solid 2-1-0 start to the season, while the Devils, under new coach Sheldon Keefe, have impressed with a 4-2-0 record. It will be an intriguing matchup between these two teams with different trajectories early in the season. The stage is set for an exciting game on Thursday night as Forsberg looks to prove himself once again and the Senators aim to continue their winning ways.