Capitals head to Ottawa to face surging Senators

The Washington Capitals play the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, Ontario. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET. ESPN+ carries the game nationally, and MNMT also has the broadcast in the Washington market. Read more: Capitals head to Ottawa to face surging Senators

Washington is 9-6-0 after a 4-3 win over Florida on Saturday that snapped a two-game losing streak. Ottawa, meanwhile, is 11-6-1, coming off a 4-2 win over Utah that same day in its first game back from a five-game road trip.

This is a tougher matchup than the one Washington just escaped. Ottawa has been one of the better stories in the East this season. In fact, the Senators get a key piece back in net the same night.

Related: NHL clears Tom Wilson in hit that injured Panthers forward

Ullmark activated off injured reserve

The Senators activated goalie Linus Ullmark off injured reserve Sunday, after missing eight games with a lower-body injury he suffered Oct. 21. Ottawa sent goalie Jonas Johansson to AHL Belleville to clear the roster spot.

Daily Faceoff listed Ullmark as unconfirmed for tonight's start as of Tuesday afternoon. Still, that's the usual uncertainty for a goaltender in his first game back from injured reserve.

He is 7-1-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average (GAA) and a .945 save percentage in limited work this season. Washington starter Logan Thompson, who made 27 saves in Saturday's win, is 6-4-0 with a 3.20 GAA and an .888 save percentage.

Related: Behind the glass: Capitals 4, Panthers 3 — Not in our house! Caps beat the Cats to end the home skid

Both rosters are missing regulars

Washington is without defensemen Rasmus Sandin, out with a knee injury until at least Nov. 25. Vincent Desharnais is out, not expected back from an emergency appendectomy until December. So the Capitals called up Justin Holl from Hershey. Forward Tom Wilson is in the lineup after the league cleared him this week for his hit on Panthers rookie Sandis Vilmanis.

Ottawa is down three forwards. Andre Burakovsky (lower body) and Warren Foegele (knee) are both out into late November. However, William Eklund, acquired from San Jose in a June trade, isn't expected back until January. Ridly Greig was a game-time decision earlier in the week, but he isn't on Ottawa's current injury list, so he should play.

Still, DraftKings lists Ottawa as a -130 moneyline favorite, with Washington at +110, according to ESPN's odds. The puck line has Ottawa at -1.5 (+185) and Washington at +1.5 (-225). The Capitals-Senators total sits at 6.5 goals.

Tuesday is also shaping up as one of Alex Ovechkin's final trips to Ottawa. The Hockey News has it as his second-to-last scheduled appearance at Canadian Tire Centre.

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