Goaltender Dylan Ferguson's road to the Ottawa Senators had ...

Published Mar 20, 2023  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  4 minute read

Dylan Ferguson, seen here while playing in the WHL in 2018, got the start for the Ottawa Senators against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night. Photo by Greg Southam /POSTMEDIA NETWORK

The road back to the NHL has been long and winding for Dylan Ferguson.

The hard work and the perseverance paid off Monday.

As the Ottawa Senators went through their morning skate at the PPG Paints Arena before facing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night, the 24-year-old Ferguson was taking turns in the crease with Mads Sogaard after being called up from the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville.

He found out Sunday after meeting the team in Pittsburgh that he would make the start against the Penguins. Nobody would have predicted the 47-save effort in his first start in the league in a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh but that’s why the play the game.

“It’s been exciting. Just the way this year has worked out it’s been kind of a whirlwind and rollercoaster to be honest,” Ferguson told reporters in Pittsburgh before the game. “Right now, I feel good. I feel like I’ve worked hard to get here and I’m just going to trust in my ability and have fun.”

This is only the second time Ferguson has suited up in the NHL. A seventh-round pick of the Dallas Stars (No. 194 overall) in 2017, he was called up by the Vegas Golden Knights from the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers during the 2017-18 campaign.

Two days after being selected by the Stars, Ferguson was traded to Vegas with a second-round pick in exchange for former Senators defenceman Marc Methot. He’d been picked up by the Knights in the expansion draft and Dallas wanted Methot badly.

The Knights signed Ferguson to a three-year entry-level deal after he was acquired.

As a 19-year-old he dressed as the backup to Maxime Lagace and had the opportunity to play nine minutes and 14 seconds Nov. 14, 2017 against the Edmonton Oilers in an 8-2 loss for Vegas. Ferguson gave up one goal on two shots.

Since then, Ferguson has had a chance to see the hockey world. He started his pro career with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets during the 2019-20 campaign and also suited up for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights that season. He spent the last two years in Vegas’ system.

The Knights didn’t give him a qualifying offer last summer so he attended the camp of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on a professional tryout. He was in the Maple Leafs training camp and signed a minor-league deal with the Marlies, but only saw action in five games.

Sent to the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder by the Marlies, Ferguson was at Pearson airport trying to get there when he had two flights cancelled. The wait was worth it because he was dealt to the Senators later in the day for future considerations.

The Senators have had their share of issues keeping goaltenders healthy throughout the system this season. Ferguson was the sixth goalie to start in Ottawa this season and Belleville has used eight goaltenders because of injuries to Sogaard, Kevin Mandolese and Antoine Bibeau.

Ottawa assistant general manager Ryan Bowness had been searching for help because with Anton Forsberg out for the season, the Senators needed Sogaard in Ottawa to backup Cam Talbot. Mandolese and Bibeau were also nursing ailments at the time which left Belleville without a goalie.

Ferguson has helped solidify the situation in net in Belleville and that’s why he was recalled by GM Pierre Dorion Sunday. Ferguson has posted a 5-1-0 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .935 save-percentage since joining Belleville.

He made 34 stops in a 4-1 win over Cleveland on the road Saturday night and was called up after the game while Mandolese was returned to Belleville.

“It’s a really good story. I’m really happy for him and really proud of him,” Belleville goalie coach Justin Peters told the club’s website. “Just a couple of weeks ago he was headed to the ECHL and he got an opportunity here.

“He’s taken advantage of it and the next thing you know he’s in the NHL. I’m really happy for him and I’m excited to watch him.”

Nothing like facing off against all-star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the road in the first game with your new Ottawa teammates.

“I’m just going to do my job and leave my best out there,” Ferguson said. “That’s all I can ask of myself, right? Everyone is here for a reason, they’re the best players in the world so it’s a good feeling to be out there with them.”

Sogaard has posted a 1-4-1 record with a .845 save-percentage and a. 4.49 GAA. Mandolese was winless in his one start this month after allowing five goals last week in Calgary.

Coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday at home, the Senators wanted to support Ferguson and Sogaard as much as possible.

“We’ll try to protect them as much as we can,” said veteran centre Derick Brassard. “Mads has been playing really solid and he’s been battling hard for us. There are no easy games in this league, but we’ve had a tough schedule. He’s been playing well and it’s encouraging for the organization to be the goalie of this franchise.

“We’re going to try to play hard and limit their chances.”

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