Jordan Spence will be inserted back into the Senators' lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Matinpalo to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Matinpalo is averaging 14:40 time-on-ice, recording seven blocks and 10 hits in seven games this season.

Kurtis MacDermid will draw back into Ottawa's lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Lycksell to the sidelines as healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Lycksell is averaging 10:26 time-on-ice and has one goal in five games this season.

Nikolas Matinpalo will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Spence to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 24-year-old Spence has been impressive offensively in his first season with the Senators, scoring four points (0G / 4A) in four games.

Olle Lycksell will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing MacDermid to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 31-year-old MacDermid is averaging 5:28 time-on-ice and has seven penalty minutes in four games.

Ottawa leads the league with 41 goals this season, an impressive stat mitigated by the fact that they have allowed an Eastern Conference-worst 44 goals. Goaltending has been an issue for the Senators early in the 2025-26 season, highlighted by an ugly 3.44 GAA and .858 SV% that Ullmark is sporting through nine games (4-4-1). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -158 home favorites against a league-worst Calgary Flames team (2-8-1) that is being outscored 39-24.

Shepard was recalled from Belleville (AHL) on Monday to serve as the backup to Leevi Merilainen, allowing Linus Ullmark to rest before returning to the crease on Tuesday. The undrafted Shedpard played one NHL game with the Washington Capitals last season but spent most of the campaign in the AHL, posting a 2.80 GAA and .891 SV% in 39 games (23-11-4) with the Hershey Bears.

Ullmark had the night off on Monday, with the recently recalled Hunter Shepard serving as Leevi Merilainen's backup, but he returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Ullmark has had an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.11 GAA and .870 SV% in eight games (4-3-1), but has been excellent in his last two games (2-0-0), saving 34 of 36 combined shots (.944 SV%).

Ottawa recalled Hunter Shepard from Belleville (AHL) on Monday to serve as the backup to Merilainen, as the team opts to give Linus Ullmark the night off on the front end of a back-to-back. Merilainen was excellent in limited action last season, posting a 1.99 GGA and .925 SV% in 12 appearances (8-3-1), but struggled immensely in his only outing this season, allowing seven goals on 26 shots (.731 SV%) in a blowout 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Senators enter Monday's contest as -167 home favorites against a Boston Bruins team coming off a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Ottawa's coaching staff emphasized that there is no injury to Linus Ullmark, but he will have the day off on Monday, with the recently recalled Shepard serving as the backup to Leevi Merilainen. Ullmark is scheduled to return to the crease on Tuesday, at which point Shepard will likely return to Belleville (AHL).