Sens goaltender Linus Ullmark game ready but remains backup

The Ottawa Senators say goaltender Linus Ullmark is game ready, but he still remains a backup goalie. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

It’s a welcome sign for the Ottawa Senators as its star goaltender Linus Ullmark appears to be nearing a return to action.

Ullmark was a full participant at practice on Tuesday at the Canadian Tire Centre. It has been one month since the team announced Ullmark would be taking a leave of absence.

“He’s getting closer for sure. There were two goalies on the ice today,” said head coach Travis Green at Tuesday’s media availability, referencing Ullmark and new signing James Reimer both taking reps in net.

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Ullmark made his return to the game day squad in Sunday’s 7-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights but was not required in his role as backup goaltender.

Green says Ullmark is game ready should he be called upon.

“He wasn’t on the bench the other night to just watch.”

Despite Ullmark’s readiness to step in, the team says the 32-year-old Swede is not ready to start games yet. Green says he’ll wait for Ullmark to give him the green light.

“We’re on his timetable and he’ll tell us when he’s ready to start. Last game he was ready to back up and knew full well that, if need be, he’d be going in the net.”

The Sens currently sit last in the Atlantic division with 30 games remaining in the regular season.

From the players to the coaching staff, there is a belief that there is still much to fight for this season as the team eyes a return to the playoffs.

Green is trying to instill the mantra of “win the day,” something the players are taking on board in the back half of this season.

“I think you can’t go too far ahead,” said Sens forward Shane Pinto. “That’s our message right now. Worry about tomorrow, obviously, but it’s one day at a time kind of mentality.”

“Right now, we’re focused on Colorado and win that one, and move onto the next one,” added veteran forward Claude Giroux.

And Ottawa is hoping its number one goaltender will be ready to play a part soon.

“When he’s ready to play, he’ll play,” said Green.

“Do we miss him? Yeah, for sure. Do we want what’s best for him? One hundred percent. No one’s rushing him back. He’ll play when he’s ready to play and we’ll welcome him back with open arms.”

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