GAMEDAY: Ottawa Senators take on NHL's least-scored-against Dallas Stars

Ottawa had three goalies on the ice for practice Wednesday: Anton Forsberg, who's close to a return from injury, Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard.

Published Jan 02, 2025  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, left, protects the puck from Claude Giroux of the Ottawa Senators during the third period of a game in Ottawa on Feb. 22, 2024. Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photo /Getty Images

SENATORS (19-15-2) at STARS (22-13-1)

Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, American Airlines Center in Dallas.

TV: TSN5 Radio: TSN 1200

Odds: Ottawa +173 Dallas -217

THE GOALIE 

Still without Linus Ullmark, whose back tightened up in a game against Edmonton on Dec. 22, the Senators had three netminders — Anton Forsberg, Mads Sogaard and Leevi Merilainen — on the ice at Wednesday’s practice in Dallas.

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With Forsberg, who was injured in a pre-game warmup in mid-December, inching closer to a return, the Senators weren’t saying who would start Thursday’s game. But it would make sense if they turned again to Merilainen, who was very good in a 3-1 win in Minnesota on Dec. 29.

“It’s good to have Forsy back out on the ice, he’s getting closer,” Senators head coach Travis Green told TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson on Wednesday. “He’s been (practising) for a couple of days. You have to have depth in the goaltending position. It’s nice to have the two young guys (Sogaard and Merilainen) with us right now and get a look at them.”

GOOD FIT FOR TKACHUK

The shift to playing alongside Ridly Greig and centre Shane Pinto has been a good one, according to Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

Tkachuk had been with Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux for a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg on Dec. 28, but Green decided to mix it up before the game in Minnesota. (Greig scored a goal.)

“There are so many great players on our team,” Tkachuk said. “I’ve played with Pints and Rids in the past. Two great guys, two great players. It’s been a lot of fun. We had a test last game and we passed with flying colours. We’re looking to build on that more. It says a lot about our team makeup and the group we have that anybody can play with anybody on any given night.”

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Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars tracks the puck after making a save in a Dec. 29 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Photo by Michael Reaves /Getty Images

JAKE AND BAKE

The Stars were really good through the 2024 calendar year, with a record of 52-25-6 (110 points). There are lots of good players on the roster, but goaltender Jake Oettinger is a big reason for the success.

A giant of a goalie, at 6-6 and 224 pounds, the 26-year-old Oettinger had 41 wins in 2024, second only to the 43 by Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck.

So far this season, Oettinger, a first-round draft pick of the Stars in 2017, is 17-9-1 with a 2.38 goals-against average.

The Stars have allowed a league-best 91 goals, with backup goalie Casey DeSmith (2.37 goals-against average) also making a big contribution.

THE ROSTERS

OTTAWA

Forwards

Tkachuk/Pinto/Greig

Gaudette/Stutzle/Batherson

Cousins/Norris/Giroux

Reinhardt/Ostapchuk/Gregor

Defencemen

Chabot/Jensen

Sanderson/Hamonic

Kleven/Matinpalo

Goaltenders

Merilainen/Sogaard

DALLAS

Forwards

Robertson/Hintz/Dadonov

Benn/Duchene/Johnston

Back/Bourque/Stankoven

Hryckowian/Steel/Blackwell

DEFENCEMEN

Heiskanen/Lyubushkin

Lindell/Lundqvist

Harley/Dumba

GOALTENDERS

Oettinger/DeSmith

INJURY REPORT

OTTAWA

D Artem Zub (IR, fractured foot); F Michael Amadio (concussion, out for a lengthy period); F David Perron (undisclosed time length, upper body); G Anton Forsberg (day-to-day, lower body); G Linus Ullmark (back, didn’t make the trip).

DALLAS

F Tyler Seguin (hip surgery, may be gone for season); F Mason Marchment (upper-body, week to week).

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