In 2024, when the Senators acquired and then signed goaltender Linus Ullmark to a four-year contract worth $8.25 million, they believed they had fully solved their goaltending riddle. Almost two full seasons later, the position remains one of uncertainty.
Ullmark had a fantastic game against Pittsburgh on Thursday night in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Penguins. With another huge game lined up Saturday afternoon, it was assumed he would draw the start on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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However, as the Senators took the ice for warmup in Tampa, they were led by backup goalie James Reimer.
The Senators stormed out to an early 2–0 lead, but Tampa came back with four unanswered goals for a 4–2 victory. Make no mistake, the Senators were outplayed overall by the Lightning, even in the absence of Nikita Kucherov (illness) and Victor Hedman (personal leave). Goaltending was not the reason for the loss.
But if they had received the kind of goaltending performance they got on Thursday night, the kind that can steal games, who knows how the afternoon might have played out?
There was no pregame media availability, due to the early start, so fans on social media wondered throughout the game why Ullmark did not start. Senators head coach Travis Green was asked about it postgame and made it clear the decision wasn’t his.
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“I want to play Linus every night,” Green told Sens host Jackson Starr. “But he needed a rest and he wasn’t available to start tonight.”
Ullmark missed about a month of action earlier this season while dealing with mental health struggles, stepping away from the team on a personal leave of absence. He admitted to anxiety struggles during a game in Toronto on Dec. 27 and sought help the following day.
Ullmark said one of his biggest supports during that time was Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman. Hedman is now on a personal leave of absence himself and did not play in Saturday’s game either.
After letting 3 of 4 possible points slip away in the past two games, the Senators’ playoff chances absorbed another body blow, but with nine games left, they still remain very much alive.
They’ll be in Florida against the Panthers on Tuesday night.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News
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