The Ottawa Senators are beginning a three-game road trip tonight in Salt Lake City against the Utah Hockey Club at 9:15 p.m. ET. Ottawa's superstar goaltender Linus Ullmark made the trip with the team after missing the past three games due to a strain injury.
Even without Ullmark starting for the past three games at home, the Senators won two of the three games to improve their record to 3-2-0. Anton Forsberg and Mads Sogaard got one win each on the home stand.
When Ullmark traveled with the Senators out West, the thought of him returning to the lineup and playing against Utah tonight appeared to be on everyone's mind. However, that isn't the case and the Senators have a right to be concerned deeply with Ullmark.
Ullmark out again for fourth consecutive game is drawing a major concern
For the fourth consecutive game, Forsberg will be starting in goal over Ullmark. With it now being four consecutive games that Ullmark is missing, the Senators' concern around Ullmark's injury is even bigger.
When the Senators and Ullmark agreed on a four-year extension one day before the season opener, it appeared the Senators and Ullmark were ready to dominate and silence critics, but now the extension might be backfiring on the Senators because now the Senators have to wait on Ullmark to play and play Forsberg which wasn't the idea.
To add more concern, Forsberg allowed in at least three goals in each of the past three games and one of those games he was pulled. While Forsberg did come through in the Senators' last game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, his four goals was the most he allowed in a game this season.
Ullmark's injury appears to be more serious and it is threatening not only him, but the Senators' season too. The Senators can't keep relying on Forsberg to help them win games as much as they want to try and trust him again. Forsberg's struggles are making it concerning that his Senators tenure could be at wits end.
This season had high expectations among the fans and team due to Ullmark being a Senator, but the excitement is fading away with Ullmark being out again. It's important that Ullmark is fully healthy and doesn't play injured, but the Senators need their number one goaltender in between the pipes.
The Senators today recalled Leevi Merilainen. With Merilainen being recalled, it only adds more concern to Ullmark's injury.