Senators recall Jonas Johansson after Linus Ullmark injury concern

The Ottawa Senators will have a different look in goal on Tuesday night in Detroit. The club has recalled goaltender Jonas Johansson from AHL Belleville, bringing him up to the NHL hours before facing the Red Wings.

The move follows an injury concern for Linus Ullmark in Ottawa’s recent win over the Boston Bruins. Head coach Travis Green said Monday that Ullmark "tweaked something a little bit" during that game. Samuel Ersson took over for the third period of the victory, and the Senators have not provided further details on Ullmark’s status or any potential timeline, opting instead to add depth in the crease.

Johansson returns to NHL after recent trade

Johansson is in his first weeks with the organization. Ottawa acquired the Swedish netminder in a late-September trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, shortly after losing prospect Leevi Meriläinen on waivers to the Vancouver Canucks. That sequence left the Senators thinner in goal, prompting management to secure another experienced option.

The 29-year-old* allowed six goals over two games with Belleville last weekend. Last season with the Lightning, he posted a 3.29 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage in 25 appearances. His recall gives Ottawa an immediate insurance policy, whether as an active backup or as part of a short-term rotation, depending on how Ullmark responds.

Donovan sent down as Senators juggle roster

To make room for Johansson, the Senators loaned defenceman Jorian Donovan to Belleville on Tuesday in a corresponding transaction. The move creates the necessary roster flexibility for Ottawa while giving Donovan more playing time in the AHL.

In the short term, the focus will remain on Ullmark’s condition and how Green deploys his goaltenders over the coming stretch. With Ersson having finished the Bruins game and Johansson now available, Ottawa has internal options to navigate the situation, but the picture in net could shift quickly if Ullmark is sidelined beyond the immediate future.