'There’s Only One Place That Beats Winning (At Home) On A Saturday Night': Senators Extend Six-Game Win Streak Against Maple Leafs
The owner of the Ottawa Senators was standing in the visitors hallway as goalie Linus Ullmark was talking about what makes this latest six-game winning streak different than the one that occurred in December.
"This time around it just feels like we’re not as satisfied as we were the last time," said Ullmark, who stopped 21 of 23 shots in a 4-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. "And so we know that we want to go for seven. And then we want to go for eight and then nine."
Michael Andlauer was smiling. When he bought the Senators less than two years ago, the hope was that he would help turn around a team that had not made the playoffs since 2016-17. And now, with the team holding a five-point as the first wild card seed in the Eastern Conference, it's finally coming into place.
"It’s positive, like it should be," said Ullmark.
Indeed, the Senators have belief. And that belief is rooted in the fact that this feels like a legit playoff team.
You couldn't have said that in the previous seven seasons. But with Ullmark in net and a roster that received a vote of confidence — and a shot in the arm — with the trade deadline acquisitions of Dylan Cozens, Fabien Zetterlund and Greg Gilbert, there's no excuses anymore. The Senators have all the pieces to end their drought and make the post-season.
"There’s only one place that beats winning (at home) on a Saturday night," said Ullmark. "This one feels pretty darn good."
Saturday win was a wild one, that's for sure. The Battle of Ontario featured a fight, several lead changes and a hilarious miscue from Ullmark, who got caught playing the puck and essentially assisting on an Auston Matthews goal.
"I’ve got to work on my angles a little bit," said Ullmark, laughing at his flub. "Honestly, not a good toe drag. Just the whole thing was just — it came off so hot. I got caught thinking I should play it right up. And as soon as I did that and then hesitated, the puck just bounced right up and I then tried to solve it. For a goalie, tend the goal."
If there was a positive in the negative, it was that the Senators answered back with a goal from David Perron a few minutes later.
"We’re not a perfect team. And we’re probably never going to be a perfect," said Ullmark. "I don’t think any team is perfect. But that’s the beauty of it."
No, the Senators are not perfect. But like the playoff-bound teams that Ullmark has been on in the past — he went to the playoffs in three straight years with Boston — this one feels like it is pushing in the right direction.
"Every team’s different," said Ullmark. "I’m just happy to contribute every night and play with these guys, these fellas. It’s been a fun ride so far and I really hope that we can achieve one of our goals, which is to get to the playoffs, but I don’t look forward as much. I look three days ahead to Montreal. That’s what is important to me."