Steve Staios is standing by his man.

The Ottawa Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager gave Linus Ullmark, the club’s top goaltender, a vote of confidence, while speaking with reporters on Monday morning.

Ullmark has a 6-4-3 record in 13 starts this season, but has a 3.24 goals-against average and a .866 save percentage. That save percentage has him ranked No. 48th in the National Hockey League.

“I believe in Linus. The team believes in Linus,” Staios said in a media availability at the Canadian Tire Centre. “If you look at goaltending around the league, some of the top goaltenders go through stretches where they’re not getting the results that they want.

“I’m not making excuses, but honestly, I think he’s been a little bit unlucky when you look at some of the goals that have gone in.”

Coming off a 26-save performance by backup Leevi Merilainen on Sunday against the Utah Mammoth, many wonder if the Senators should give him a chance to carry the ball with the Dallas Stars in town.

Listening to Staois, it certainly sounds like head coach Travis Green and goalie coach Justin Peters will ride Ullmark because the organization understands he’s the guy who will get this club back to the playoffs.

The Senators don’t have any concerns about Ullmark’s preparation for the season.

“He’s in better shape than he’s ever been in,” Staios said. “He’s made that commitment. You can see that his game is rounding into form over a long period of time. He’s our guy, and we have full faith in him and a pretty good young player in Leevi, who continues to develop as well.”

Of course, the Senators have started to play better in front of Ullmark, and that has been a factor.

The Senators woke up on Monday sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division with an 8-5-3 record and 16 points. The way it’s shaping up with the quarter-mark around the corner, the Senators can’t afford to take a step back.

Staios said he didn’t like the way the Senators started the year.

“I was a little surprised with our start. To be quite honest,” Staios said. ” You hope, with the continuation of last year, with a similar group coming back, same coaching staff, that we would have been on our game early, and we’ve grown into it, playing to our identity more now.

“But some early stumbles, I thought quite honestly, I think we pissed away some points early on, but feel like we’re getting closer to playing to our identity. Full credit to the group for that.”

He has been pleased that the group has battled through the adversity of losing captain Brady Tkachuk. The club has gone 7-3-3 while he recovers from thumb surgery that will keep him out until mid-December.

“Travis has done a great job of not building in excuses. Brady is our captain. He’s our leader. He’s an impactful player every night,” Staios said. “But we wanted to make sure that we took the approach of this next man up, and we’re not going to use that as an excuse.

“Brady’s done all he can to continue the lead, even with his injury being around the group. So credit to the group, we know how much of an impact that he is for us, yet our players took it upon themselves to step up and continue to play.”

After two years in the GM’s role, Staios has implemented numerous changes. The most significant was dealing often-injured centre Josh Norris to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Dylan Cozens at last year’s trade deadline.

Cozens has made his impact felt, but winger Fabian Zetterlund, who was acquired from the San Jose Sharks at the deadline, has struggled mightily. He signed a three-year deal worth $4.275 million per season.

Zetterlund, 26, has one goal and three points in 16 games. Last summer, the club acquired defenceman Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings for two draft picks, and he’s played only seven games.

Spence will get his chance to play because every team uses seven or eight defencemen during a season. Zetterlund is a bigger concern.

“The team has improved with both of those players in our lineup,” Staios said of Zetterlund and Spence. “When you put perspective on it, over a season, I love having them on our team.

“With Z, he’s not putting the puck in the net, but he’s an impactful player. He’s got a fallback game, he’s got a ‘B’ game, and he gets in on the forecheck. He’s a heavy body, and he’s committed to team play. Eventually, he’s got the talent and the ability to (score).

“It’s no different than goaltending. All of our players are going to go through stretches, and it’s up to us to create the environment where you put perspective on it first of all, but also, the strength is in the group.”

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