Goaltender Linus Ullmark skated with the Ottawa Senators on Friday for the first time since taking a leave of absence in late December.
Ullmark skated on his own Tuesday and appears to be trending towards a return for the Senators, who signed veteran James Reimer to a one-year deal for the remainder of the season on Monday.
The Senators have leaned heavily on goaltender Leevi Merilainen of late, with the 23-year-old starting each of the team’s past five games and nine of 10 since Ullmark took his leave. Merilainen has an 8-10-0 record with a .868 save percentage and a 3.37 goals-against average.
Merilainen, Reimer and Ullmark were all on the ice Friday.
Ullmark last played in the Senators’ 7-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 27, where he was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots. He has appeared in 28 games in his second season in Ottawa, and owns a 2.95 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage on the season.
An 11-year veteran, Ullmark spent his first six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before he joined the Boston Bruins, where he won a Vezina Trophy following the 2022-23 season. He has spent the past two seasons in Ottawa.
The Senators will host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday as the team eyes a third straight victory.