Ottawa Senators News

Kleven missed the final seven games of the regular season and is questionable to play in Game 1 in Carolina. Kleven was on the ice for Friday's practice, but skated as an extra, signalling that he may be unavailable to open the series. Head coach Travis Green said that Kleven is closer to playing, but likely won't announce any lineup changes ahead of warmups.

Merilainen has played well in the AHL as of late and figures to serve as Ottawa's third goalie throughout the postseason. Merilainen has gone 8-8-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .909 SV% in 19 AHL games, bu struggled with Ottawa, posting an 8-10-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .860 SV% in 20 games.

Fresh off his NCAA Championship loss, Blake Montgomery has signed a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa on Wednesday. The 20-year-old towering defensemen was Ottawa's 2024 4th round pick (117th overall) and had nine goals and 17 points in 38 games in his first season in Wisconsin (NCAA) after coming over from London (OHL) the previous season.

Amadio has played every game for Ottawa this season and will have the night off in their final game before beginning the postseason. The 29-year-old Amadio scored a career-high 35 points (15G/ 20A) in 81 games this season. Hayden Hodgson will draw into the lineup as Amadio's replacement.

Michael Amadio (rest) will not play on Wednesday, allowing Hodgon to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Hodgson has played nine games with Ottawa this season, but has spent most of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 47 games with Belleville.

Reimer gave up four goals on 30 shots in the Seantors' OT loss to the Devils on Sunday. With the Senators locked into their playoff spot, they will give Linus Ullmark, their Game 1 starter, another night off. Reimer has gone 3-2-1 with a 2.10 GAA and .896 SV% in six games since the Olympic break.

Reimer gave up four goals on 30 shots in the Seantors' OT loss to the Devils on Sunday. With the Senators locked into their playoff spot, they will give Linus Ullmark, their Game 1 starter, another night off. Reimer has gone 3-2-1 with a 2.10 GAA and .896 SV% in six games since the Olympic break.

Ullmark stopped 22 of 23 shots in the Senators' 5-1 win over the Panthers on Thursday. Ullmark is playing his best hockey at the right time of year, having gone 4-1-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .913 SV% in five April starts. This afternoon he'll start a pivotal matchup vs. the Islanders, who he struggled against way back in October. In his only start vs. the Islanders this season, Ullmark gave up five goals on 23 shots in a 5-4 loss.

With the surprising return of Thomas Chabot (forearm), Crotty will be the odd man out of Ottawa's lineup as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Crotty recently made his season debut with Ottawa, averaging 14:47 time-on-ice and tallying one assist in four games.