Stephen Halliday will make his NHL debut Thursday night as the Ottawa Senators begin a seven-game road trip against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. The 23-year-old forward, recalled from the AHL's Belleville Senators, slots into the fourth line amid injuries to key players. Linus Ullmark is slated to start in goal for Ottawa.
The Ottawa Senators (9-6-4) face the Anaheim Ducks (13-6-1) at 10 p.m. ET, marking the start of Ottawa's longest road trip of the season with seven games on the docket—the sixth such trip in team history.
Halliday, who led Belleville in scoring last season with 19 goals and 32 assists, has one goal and 15 assists in 15 games this year before his recall on Tuesday. He will center the fourth line alongside Nick Cousins and Hayden Hodgson, replacing Ridly Greig, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
"It’s definitely surreal, and I’m grateful for everyone who’s helped me get here," Halliday said after morning skate in Anaheim. His parents will attend the game at the Honda Center. "I think we just want to play our game... I just want to come in and play with confidence and help win the game."
Senators head coach Travis Green expressed excitement for the debutant. "It’s something you never forget," Green said. "There’s only one time you play your first game... happy for him, excited to see him play."
Ottawa's projected lineup includes:
- Forwards: David Perron -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson; Lars Eller -- Dylan Cozens -- Fabian Zetterlund; Michael Amadio -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux; Nick Cousins -- Stephen Halliday -- Hayden Hodgson
- Defense: Jake Sanderson -- Artem Zub; Tyler Kleven -- Jordan Spence; Nikolas Matinpalo -- Nick Jensen
- Goalies: Linus Ullmark (starting), Leevi Merilainen
Scratches: Kurtis MacDermid, Lassi Thomson, Ridly Greig. Injuries: Brady Tkachuk (thumb surgery), Olle Lycksell (undisclosed), Thomas Chabot (upper body, day-to-day, missing third straight game).
Ullmark holds a 4-2-2 record against Anaheim with a .930 save percentage and 2.20 goals-against average in eight starts. David Perron leads all players in career games (48), goals (8), assists (26), points (34) and penalty minutes (36) versus the Ducks.
The teams split their meetings last season: Ottawa lost 4-3 in a shootout on the road and won 5-1 at home.
Anaheim's projected lineup:
- Forwards: Chris Kreider -- Leo Carlsson -- Troy Terry; Cutter Gauthier -- Mason McTavish -- Beckett Sennecke; Frank Vatrano -- Ryan Strome -- Alex Killorn; Ross Johnston -- Jansen Harkins -- Nikita Nesterenko
- Defense: Jackson LaCombe -- Drew Helleson; Olen Zellweger -- Jacob Trouba; Ian Moore -- Radko Gudas
- Goalies: Petr Mrazek, Lukas Dostal
Scratches: Pavel Mintyukov (could return after two healthy scratches). Injuries: Ryan Poehling (upper body), Mikael Granlund (lower body). The Ducks skipped a morning skate after a 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.
The game airs on Victory+, TSN5 and RDS.
