The Ottawa Senators play the Winnipeg Jets tonight at 7 p.m. ET in their first game back from their Christmas break. However, the team is going to be down with their goaltending situation.
Linus Ullmark, who was hot in December by winning seven consecutive starts at one point, suffered an upper body injury in the Senators' final game before the Christmas break. With Leevi Merilainen in goal in replace of Ullmark starting at the start of the second period, the Senators fell 3-1 to the Edmonton Oilers this past Sunday night.
Anton Forsberg is also out with an injury. Ullmark is not making the road trip for the Senators. With both goaltenders out, that puts faith in Merilainen at 22 years old. The Senators currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 38 points, but are in danger of losing their spot and season if Ullmark is out for a period of time. A former Vezina Trophy winner, who hasn't officially retired from hockey, might be an option if the Senators desperately want to find a veteran goaltender.
Braden Holtby could be option for Senators with injuries to goaltenders
Braden Holtby hasn't announced his official retirement from hockey despite being 35 years old. When Holtby played in the 2010s, he was one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.
In his 12-year career, Holtby had a solid career by posting a 299-143-50 record. Holtby's best season came in 2016 when he won the Vezina Trophy with an impressive 48-9-7 record, which included a 2.20 goals against average and .920 save percentage. Holtby's 48 wins tied Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur for the most wins in a single season.
Holtby recorded three consecutive 40-win seasons from 2015-2017. In 2017, Holtby won the Jennings Trophy and led the NHL with nine shutouts and was tied for the most wins with 42. Holtby made the All-Star Game every year from 2016-2020. In 2018, Holtby was a key player when the Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Following 2020, Holtby played one season with the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars, where each season had highs and lows. Holtby last played an NHL game as a Star on March 4, 2022. Holtby suffered a lower body injury in March 2022 that caused him to miss the rest of the 2021-22 season, and he would have to sit out the entire 2022-23 season.
The Senators currently are facing uncertainty with their injuries to Ullmark and Forsberg. In particular, if Ullmark is out for a period of time, and with it being anybody's guess, it puts deep concern for the Senators season.
In a shocking twist, current Senators head coach Travis Green was Holtby's head coach when Holtby played for the Canucks in the 2020-21 season. So, the two do know each other.
Merilainen might be inexperienced at the moment with having only playing five games at 22 years old and having earned one NHL win. At 24 years old, Mads Sogaard has a 3.53 goals against average and .881 save percentage in his career.
Concerns around goaltending went up drastically for the Senators with five games remaining on their nine-game road trip. If Merilainen or Sogaard struggle, Holtby is available.