The Ottawa Senators are bracing for a challenging road ahead as their star goalie, Linus Ullmark, has been ruled out for the next few games due to a back injury. Ullmark won't be available for Saturday's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, Sunday in Minnesota, and likely misses further games against Dallas on January 2, St. Louis on January 3, and Detroit on January 7.

The timeline for Ullmark's return is unclear. The back issue first arose during a game in Edmonton on December 22, and without medical clarity, fans and team officials alike are left in suspense on when he will be fit to return. If his absence extends through the entire road trip, his earliest chance to play again would be on January 9 during a home game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Senators coach, Travis Green, remains tight-lipped about Ullmark's condition, but did confirm that backup goalie Anton Forsberg will join the team on the road. 'No update on Linus. He’s still not good enough to skate,' Green stated after a recent practice session. This lack of transparency is a common theme across the NHL, where teams often keep injury details under wraps, unlike other professional sports leagues.

Given Ullmark's recent stellar performance—helping the Senators secure a six-game winning streak prior to a setback against Edmonton—the team's ability to maintain momentum now hinges on their remaining goalies. With 12 wins to his name, Ullmark boasted a goals-against average of 2.38 and a save percentage of .915. This loss represents a significant blow to the Senators, who currently sit at an 18-14-2 record and are vying for a playoff spot in the tightly contested Eastern Conference.

In Ullmark's absence, the Senators will rely on a mix of backup goalies—including Forsberg, who has been out since sustaining an injury during a pre-game warm-up two weeks ago—along with call-ups Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard from the American Hockey League's (AHL) Belleville Senators. While the players hold faith in their young netminders, the pressure will be on to deliver strong performances against formidable opponents like the Jets, who are leading the NHL standings.

In the locker room, captain Brady Tkachuk reassured fans of his team’s resilience, saying, 'We have all the trust in anyone who is in net. It will be up to us to make their job as easy as possible.' Meanwhile, Green emphasized the need for the Senators to stick to their game plan regardless of who is in goal.

Up front, the Senators have been impacted by injuries beyond Ullmark, as winger Michael Amadio appears sidelined for an extended period. However, there are signs of hope, with players like David Perron and defenceman Artem Zub returning to practice.

This is a critical juncture for the Senators, who had shown promise by winning three of their last four games leading into the Christmas break. They aim to recapture that winning spirit as they face the Jets, who sport a 25-10-1 record.

Time will tell how the Senators navigate this challenging period, but fans can only hope for Ullmark's swift recovery to anchor the team defensively once again.