The Ottawa Senators signed goaltender James Reimer on Monday to an $850,000 contract that runs through the end of the season.
The Senators are reeling from four consecutive losses that magnified their shaky goaltending. They were outscored 19-8 in that span, and their .872 season save percentage is the worst in the NHL.
Reimer, 37, joined Ottawa at practice after playing a tuneup game Sunday with the Belleville Senators, the team’s AHL affiliate. He allowed six goals on 28 shots in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Rochester Americans.
Senators starter Linus Ullmark took a personal leave in late December and remains away from the team indefinitely.
Ullmark’s save percentage in 28 games is .881, and backup goalie Leevi Merilainen owns an .866 save rate in 17 games. AHL call-ups Hunter Shepard and Mads Sogaard both struggled last week in brief relief appearances.
A 15-year veteran, Reimer has a .910 career save percentage across 525 games (479 starts) with seven NHL teams. He is 225-187-65 with 31 shutouts and a 2.89 goals-against average.
The Senators, tied for last in the Eastern Conference with 45 points, host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday and visit the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
