Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark (Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images)

Senators News & Rumours: Ullmark, Sanderson, Chabot & More

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Spencer Lazary | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 9:25 AM ET

The Ottawa Senators are in the middle of a dramatic push hunt for a wild card spot , and with only eight games left on the schedule, every point is basically a season-saver. The Senators are currently tied with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers at 86 points, sitting just two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for that final playoff spot.

Here is the biggest news surrounding the Senators this week.

Goaltending Continues to Be an Issue

The biggest story in Ottawa right now is the play of the goaltenders, and not in a good way. Linus Ullmark has struggled significantly this season. To make matters worse, he also has been the subject to some online criticism. This past weekend, he was suppose to start on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, it was revealed that he needed a night off so, the start with given to James Reimer. This came as a surprise and because Ullmark’s decision to need to night off, media all around Canada has been talking about it.

Unfortunately, he is currently sporting an .888 save percentage, which is a far cry from the Vezina-calibre play the team expected when they signed him to a $33 million extension. The Senators are currently ranked last in the NHL in team save percentage, which is a massive concern for a team that is actually playing quite well defensively. If they are going to leapfrog Columbus and Detroit to get into the playoffs, they need their goalies to start making the saves they are supposed to make.

Blue Line Is Riddled With Injuries

The Senators are also dealing with some major hits to their defensive core at the worst possible time. Thomas Chabot is officially out for the rest of the season after having surgery on a broken bone in his right arm last Thursday. He is looking at a four-to-eight week recovery timeline, which means even if the team makes the postseason, they likely won’t see him unless they go on a miracle run to the Stanley Cup Final.

On top of that, the team is still waiting on the return of Jake Sanderson. While he practiced in a non-contact jersey yesterday in Florida, he did not return to the lineup against the Florida Panthers. With both Chabot and Sanderson out, the team is leaning heavily on rookie Carter Yakemchuk, who has been a bright spot since his debut. Unfortunately, he is injured as well. He left the Panthers game last night after taking a high-hit from Noah Gregor. Which just adds to the list of injuries the Senators have on the back end.

What’s Next for the Senators

The Senators are back in action again on Thursday, April 2 against the Buffalo Sabres. After that, they take on the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon. Their homestand continues with games against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 7, and the Panthers again on April 9. With only eight games remaining on the schedule, the Senators need to find a way to win most of them, or at the very least collect points in six or more. Otherwise, they are at serious risk of missing the playoffs.