On Saturday, general Manager Steve Staios publicly reaffirmed his belief in Linus Ullmark, who then went out an proved him right by shutting out Anaheim.
It's a common belief around hockey that the Ottawa Senators would be comfortably in a playoff position if they had been blessed with just average goaltending this season.
But there can be no complaints about the performance of Linus Ullmark on Saturday afternoon. Ullmark didn't face a ton of shots, but there was no shortage of quality ones in a tight game, and he sealed things up in a 2-0 shutout of the Anaheim Ducks. The big Swede finished with 23 saves for his 14th career shutout.
Michael Amadio and Thomas Chabot accounted for all the scoring in the second period. Anaheim goalie Ville Husso was also fantastic for the Ducks making 27 saves.
Goalie interference was just as big a factor as the goalie performances.
Chabot's shorthanded goal was challenged for offside when Tim Stutzle bumped Husso's skate. After review, the goal stood, and Husso wasn't shy about expressing his displeasure to the officials. Then, when Stutzle scored to make it 3-0 in the third period, referees immediately waved that one off for goalie interference, perhaps throwing Husso a bone.
With a two goal lead late in the third, Travis Green played it safe and opted not to challenge it. Unfortunately, that call cost Stutzle an extension of his point scoring streak.
Prior to the game, GM Steve Staios was asked about Ullmark's play this season.
"The goaltending position's a bit volatile," GM Steve Staios told TSN's Claire Hanna just before the game. "I think you see top-rated goaltenders all the time that may go through certain stretches. I think if you ask him, he hasn't played to his expectation."
Staios then transitioned to the reason why he acquire Ullmark in the summer of the 2024.
"I went out and got a top class goaltender for this group because I believe in the group," Staios said. "And it's very hard to find goaltenders like this. I can understand it when a goaltender goes through a stretch when he's not playing well, it gets scrutinized because of this position. But certainly, I wouldn't change a thing. We love having Linus Ullmark here, and we believe in him and believe he's going to turn around."
Ullmark certainly took a big step in that direction on Saturday.
Pending the result of the day's other games, the Senators' victory leaves them three points behind the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the East.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News