The Ottawa Senators could be close to getting their Vezina-winning starting goaltender back between the pipes.
Head coach Travis Green told reporters on Wednesday that Linus Ullmark, who missed Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with a strain, skated on Wednesday and is progressing well in his recovery.
Though he declined to say definitively whether Ullmark could be available for Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the coach said he “could be ready,” per Sportsnet’s Alex Adams.
Green told reporters earlier in the week that while they don’t believe Ullmark’s ailment is too serious, the team wants to be extra cautious with their top off-season signing.
Ullmark allowed four goals on 26 shots in his last outing on Saturday night, but still owns a .914 save percentage in two starts for the Senators.
The 32-year-old won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s most outstanding goaltender following the 2022-23 season, when he posted career-best numbers in goals-against average (1.89) and save percentage (.938) in 49 starts for the Boston Bruins.
In other injury news, Green revealed that defenceman Artem Zub suffered a concussion and will be out at least one week. The 29-year-old exited Monday’s game in the first period following a heavy hit in the defensive zone by Tanner Jeannot. There was no penalty called on the play.
Fellow defenceman Thomas Chabot, who left Wednesday’s practice early after colliding with Jacob Bernard-Docker, is “fine” according to Green and is not expected to miss time.
Green also provided an update on Ridly Greig, who missed Monday’s game with an upper-body injury and did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
“He’s progressing,” the bench boss told reporters. “Expect him to skate sooner than later.”