Ullmark Cleared to Start as Senators Open Home Slate Against Flyers

The Ottawa Senators got a triple dose of good news ahead of Thursday's home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. Head coach Travis Green confirmed after Thursday's practice that goaltender Linus Ullmark, who was dinged up in Monday's game in Boston and sat out Tuesday's 5-3 loss to Detroit, is ready to go and will start against the Flyers. It is the clearest sign yet that Ullmark's injury scare was minor. The Senators recalled veteran Jonas Johansson on Tuesday as insurance, but he spent just one night on the NHL bench — dressing as backup while Samuel Ersson made 31 saves against the Red Wings — before being reassigned to AHL Belleville on Wednesday. There was more progress on the blue line: Artem Zub and Andre Burakovsky both shed their non-contact yellow jerseys for regular practice sweaters, though Green confirmed neither will suit up Thursday night. The one negative is Jake Sanderson, who reinjured himself in the season opener in Toronto and remains out with a lower-body issue, skating on his own. Green also shuffled his top six after the Detroit loss: William Eklund, who had a goal and an assist against the Red Wings, moves up to skate with Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson, while Ridly Greig drops to a line with Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund. It is Ottawa's first meaningful home game in more than five months.