According to TSN Ottawa, Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (back) will not serve as the backup on Thursday evening when the Senators face the Capitals. The team expressed optimism that Ullmark could return during their current homestand but will need at least another day to recover.

Ullmark's next chance to suit up will be at home against Minnesota on Saturday.

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.

Forsberg was the first goalie to leave the ice Thursday, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports, indicating he'll be in goal at home versus Washington.

After missing almost a month of action with a back injury, goalie Linus Ullmark looks like he'll be ready to return to the lineup soon. At that point, with Anton Forsberg and Leevi Merilainen, the Senators will have three available goalies. This just in: there isn't room on the bench for two backup goalies.

Related: Ottawa Senators Goalie Linus Ullmark May Soon Have To Reconsider His Plans To Play In The 4 Nations Face

Is there a genuine debate about who should back up Linus Ullmark when he's healthy enough to play again? Could the Senators lean on both?

Michael Finewax suggests trading for Linus Ullmark, who is close to returning to the Ottawa lineup from a back injury that has sidelined him since Dec. 22.

Anton Forsberg isn't making the Senators' looming decision on goaltending any easier. This just in: there isn't room on the bench for two backup goalies. In Ullmark's absence, Merilainen has been ...

Anders Lundberg, Sweden’s general manager, must quickly pivot to a new contingency plan for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Significant question marks surround the goaltending position as the injury has bitten weeks before the start of the inaugural tournament by taking out two of their top options in the crease.

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips. Goaltender Linus Ullmark was a full participant at this morning's skate and taking first team repetitions as he continues to work his way back from a back injury.

The Ottawa Senators roll on and test their roster depth with the final home game against the Washington Capitals. The Capitals have a strong team now and future as goaltender Logan Thompson has been extended with a six year extension worth $5.