Senators Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Ullmark’s Return, Injury Concerns and More

The Ottawa Senators head into the week with plenty of reasons for optimism.

The Senators have collected points in four consecutive games, including an overtime victory against the Colorado Avalanche and an impressive road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, injuries are beginning to test Ottawa’s forward depth, and a three-game schedule this week presents another opportunity to demonstrate that the club can maintain its momentum.

With the Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings on the schedule, the Senators will have little room for complacency. Here are some key storylines to watch and the team’s upcoming schedule for the week of Nov. 15-21, 2026.

Atlantic Division Position

Ottawa enters the week with a 13-6-2 record and 28 points, placing the club third in the Atlantic Division. The Senators are firmly in the early-season playoff conversation, sitting alongside the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens near the top of the division.

Their recent results have been particularly encouraging. Ottawa defeated Colorado 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 12 before following that performance with a convincing 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 14.

The victory against the Avalanche was especially important. Colorado presents a difficult matchup because of its speed, offensive creativity and ability to generate pressure through the neutral zone. Ottawa found a way to stay competitive and ultimately secure two points.

The Senators have also received meaningful contributions from their offensive leaders. Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson have both reached the 10-goal mark, providing the type of offensive production that makes Ottawa more difficult to defend.

The challenge now is sustaining that production while continuing to improve defensively. Ottawa has shown that it can compete with strong opposition, but maintaining that standard over an extended schedule will be an important test.

Ullmark’s Return Provides a Major Boost

One of the most encouraging developments for Ottawa has been the return of goaltender Linus Ullmark.

Ullmark missed nine games with a lower-body injury after leaving an Oct. 21 matchup against the Florida Panthers. His absence created an important challenge for the Senators, particularly given his importance to the team’s defensive structure.

His return against Colorado on Nov. 12 was timely, and he followed it up with another start against Pittsburgh.

Ullmark entered the week with an 8-1-0 record in nine appearances, demonstrating just how valuable he has been when available.

Ottawa needs Ullmark healthy and performing consistently if it intends to remain competitive in the Atlantic Division. His ability to control rebounds, manage traffic around the crease and deliver timely saves gives the defence considerably more confidence.

His return also provides some stability to a goaltending situation that had been disrupted by his absence.

Injury Report: Forward Depth Becoming a Concern

Although Ullmark’s return is positive news, Ottawa is still dealing with several injuries that could influence its lineup this week.

The most recent concern involves Hayden Hodgson, who sustained a lower-body injury during the Nov. 14 game against Pittsburgh. He did not return after leaving the contest, and his availability for Tuesday’s game against Winnipeg is uncertain. His absence would leave Ottawa with limited healthy forward options.

Other notable injury updates include:

• Nick Cousins (upper body): Cousins is expected to miss at least a week to 10 days, potentially keeping him out for much of this week’s schedule.
• Andre Burakovsky (lower body): Remains on injured reserve, with a projected return around Nov. 27.
• Warren Foegele (knee): Continues to recover from his injury and is expected to remain unavailable until later in November.
• William Eklund (ankle): Faces a longer recovery, with an expected return around January 2027.

The most significant concern is the cumulative effect of these absences. Ottawa has enough offensive talent to compensate for individual injuries, but losing multiple forwards limits the coaching staff’s flexibility when constructing lines and managing matchups.

Hodgson’s status deserves particular attention heading into Tuesday. The Senators may need to consider a roster adjustment or a recall from Belleville if he cannot play.

Senators Upcoming Schedule

The Senators have three games on the schedule this week, including one road contest and two home dates.

Winnipeg Jets Present a Difficult Road Challenge

The Senators begin their week with a road matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.

Playing in Winnipeg is rarely straightforward. The Jets have the ability to pressure opposing defencemen, create turnovers and capitalize on mistakes. Ottawa will need to be disciplined with the puck and avoid giving Winnipeg unnecessary opportunities in transition.

The matchup also provides a useful measuring stick for Ottawa’s defensive progress. The Senators have demonstrated that they can generate offence against quality opposition, but limiting high-danger chances will be just as important.

Ullmark’s presence should help, although Ottawa cannot rely exclusively on its goaltender to carry the defensive workload.

Philadelphia Flyers Bring an Important Divisional Test

Philadelphia visits the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday in a matchup that could become a demanding physical contest.

The Flyers are an opponent that Ottawa cannot afford to underestimate. Their willingness to compete along the boards and make life uncomfortable for opposing forwards can disrupt a team’s offensive rhythm.

For the Senators, establishing their forecheck early will be important. Ottawa has the skill to create scoring opportunities, but it needs to spend enough time in the offensive zone to dictate the pace.

This game also represents an opportunity to take advantage of home ice after the trip to Winnipeg. Collecting points against Eastern Conference opponents is particularly valuable when division standings are tightly contested.

Los Angeles Kings Close Out the Week

The Kings provide another interesting challenge to finish the week.

Los Angeles generally prefers a structured approach, emphasizing puck possession, defensive responsibility and patient offensive-zone play. Ottawa will need to be prepared for a team that is comfortable slowing the game down and forcing opponents to work for scoring opportunities.

The Senators should look to use their speed through the neutral zone and avoid becoming overly reliant on individual offensive plays.

Saturday’s matchup also carries added importance because it concludes a three-game stretch in which Ottawa will be looking to protect its position near the top of the Atlantic Division.

Ottawa Must Keep Building Momentum

The Senators enter this week in a favourable position, but the next three games offer an important opportunity to establish themselves as a legitimate Atlantic Division threat.

Ullmark’s return is a significant development, and Ottawa’s recent offensive contributions from Stützle and Batherson provide plenty of reasons for optimism. The team’s ability to collect points against Colorado and Pittsburgh also demonstrates that it can compete with opponents possessing considerable offensive talent.

However, the injury situation remains something to monitor. Losing additional forwards, particularly with Hodgson now dealing with an injury, could create lineup challenges as the schedule progresses.

The Winnipeg matchup will test Ottawa on the road, while Philadelphia and Los Angeles offer two different styles of opposition at home.

A successful week would involve more than simply collecting wins. Ottawa needs to demonstrate that its recent defensive improvements are sustainable, its goaltending remains dependable and its offensive depth can withstand injuries.

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