Ullmark Returns as Senators Host Avalanche

Linus Ullmark is back in Ottawa’s net and Colorado’s unsettled starting goalie makes the game a test of Ottawa’s home form against Colorado’s scoring depth.

Overview

Linus Ullmark is confirmed to start for the Senators after roughly three weeks out with an injury; he is 7-1-0 with a .945 save percentage.
Colorado and Ottawa enter the game level at 11-6-2, with Ottawa strong at home and Colorado much better at Ball Arena than on the road.
Reports conflict about the Avalanche starter for Thursday, with some outlets naming Scott Wedgewood and others projecting Mackenzie Blackwood.
Colorado’s offense is driven by Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Cale Makar and a hot Artturi Lehkonen, so the Avs are likely to lean on scoring if the goalie situation is unsettled.
The matchup carries recent head-to-head context: Ottawa beat Colorado 5-2 in the last meeting and the Avs had earlier run a seven-game win streak against the Sens, giving both teams recent reasons for confidence.