Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers
The Ottawa Senators are gearing up to face the New York Rangers on Wednesday evening, looking to build on their recent success after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 the night before. This matchup will also be significant for James Reimer, as it could mark the first game of his tenure with the Senators. However, uncertainty remains regarding whether he will start in goal or serve as a backup against the Rangers.
Roster Adjustments
In a recent roster adjustment, Hunter Shepard was reassigned to the AHL’s Belleville Senators, leaving Reimer and fellow goalie Leevi Merilainen as the only netminders on the NHL roster. Merilainen participated in the game against the Canucks, where he could have claimed a shutout had it not been for a costly turnover by Dylan Cozens. In his last outing, Merilainen faced a harsh reality when the Senators were overwhelmed 8-2 by Colorado, raising questions about whether Coach Travis Green will opt for the inexperienced goalie in back-to-back contests.
James Reimer’s Journey
Reimer, whose career has taken him through various NHL teams including Toronto, San Jose, Florida, and most recently Anaheim, will don his eighth NHL jersey with Ottawa. Notably, he has had multiple tenures in San Jose and attempted to return to Toronto earlier this fall, but a contract could not be realized.
“I went to Toronto in case there was a need there, but it didn’t work out,”
Reimer disclosed to reporters this week. Following this, he maintained his fitness by skating with junior teams during a break from NHL play.
Recent Performance and Future Outlook
During the holidays, Reimer represented Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, playing in two matches before Canada made the decision to go with another goalie for the quarterfinals. Shortly after returning home, the Senators extended a one-year contract worth an average annual value of $850,000 to the 37-year-old goalie, who stepped in to fill the void created by Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence that left the Senators needing stability in goal. Reports indicated that Ullmark might make his return within a week.
Since the Senators competed on Tuesday, there was no practice ahead of the Rangers game, which means we lack detailed updates from Coach Green. Nevertheless, it appears he is satisfied with the team’s performance against the Canucks, suggesting minimal changes will be made for the upcoming contest. On the other side, the Rangers are struggling, having lost four consecutive matches, including a heavy defeat to Boston.
Key Matchup
The key narrative for Wednesday’s game will revolve around Reimer potentially facing off against Jonathan Quick, who is the oldest goalie in the NHL at 39 years old and is set to celebrate his 40th birthday next week. Should Reimer take to the ice, this encounter would create one of the oldest goalie matchups in the history of the Senators, with Reimer ranking as the third oldest at 37. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM at Madison Square Garden.
