Gets starting nod Thursday against Ducks

Linus Ullmark is slated to start in goal for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday's road game against the Ducks. The veteran goaltender, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2022-23 with a 40-6-1 record, 1.89 GAA, and .938 save percentage, followed that up with a 22-10-7 record, .915 save percentage, and 2.57 GAA in 39 starts last season. His GSAx was third-best in 2022-23 (38.21) and eighth-best in 2023-24 (21.62), indicating his ability to save high-quality shots. Despite struggling in the 2023 playoffs against Florida (3.33 GAA, .896 SV%), his career .919 save percentage over 207 games, combined with his move to Ottawa, positions him as a strong candidate for over 30 wins and a top-10 goaltender this season. Ullmark, who signed a four-year, $20 million deal with Boston in 2021, previously played for Buffalo, where he posted strong numbers (26-20-6, 2.67 GAA, .916 SV%) despite durability issues from lower-body injuries that sidelined him for 29 games. He is reportedly fully recovered from these injuries.