One thing to watch: It’s been an awakening for The Great 8, 39-year-old Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, who has 22 goals in 34 games (he scored 31 all of last season). With 875 career goals, he’s now just 19 behind the NHL all-time record set by Wayne Gretzky.

Travis Green wore his best poker face after the club’s skate on Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre. Cagey would be the best word to describe the back-and-forth reporters had with Green after goaltender Linus Ullmark participated fully in the 40-minute skate in preparation for Thursday’s visit by Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

Team Sweden has announced Philadelphia Flyers goalie Sam Ersson as a late addition to their lineup for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. With Jacob Markstrom of

Jeremy Swayman hasn't been at his best in 2024/25 without Linus Ullmark, and now, it appears that some in the media are calling for the team to move him.

Poised to return soon

According to Bruce Garrioch of TSN, Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (back) is nearing a return and could return during their next homestand on Thursday or Saturday. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since suffering this injury on December 22.

Ullmark has been out of Ottawa's lineup since Dec. 22 when he left a game after one period of play in Edmonton with back tightness. It sounded precautionary at the time but turned out to be reasonably serious. This is Ullmark's second stint on the injury list. He missed a couple of weeks of action back in mid-October.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark has been sidelined for over a month with a back injury. He left a game against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 22 and has been out of action ever since.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo withdrew from the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in what is supposed to be the NHL’s return to international play.

As a result of the New Jersey Devils number one netminder sidelined, Team Sweden was in need of another goaltender for the 4 Nations Fave-Off. On Wednesday, they named the replacement.

Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman highlighted his close friendship with Linus Ullmark with a special reaction to a social media post.

Shifts to LTIR