The Ottawa Senators stormed into the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 15-5-2 record in their final 22 games. They slipped in the first game of the postseason, losing 2-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Throughout the season, goaltending was an issue in Ottawa, even though they got a good performance on Saturday. Even after Linus Ullmark‘s solid start, the Senators’ goaltending will be their downfall in the playoffs.
Ullmark had a great first season in Ottawa, leading them to the playoffs last year with a .909 save percentage in the regular season. The Senators had already signed him to a four-year contract, so there was optimism that the rest of the deal would go as well. But a leave of absence led to online rumors, and bad play caught up to Ottawa early in the season.
Before the leave, Ullmark went 14-9-5 in 28 starts with a putrid .881 save percentage. In his 21 starts after the leave, he went 14-4-3 with a .904 save percentage. That improvement was enough to send the Senators flying up the standings and get them into the dance. But the horrors of the early season still resonate with fans.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs went well for Ullmark, saving 27 of 29 shots in the 2-0 loss. But that makes the future even scarier, as a poor goaltending game could be coming down the pike. The Senators are heavy underdogs in the series, and wasting a great goaltending performance could cost them their season.
If the Senators lose to the Hurricanes, goaltending can be blamed regardless. They got off to such a poor start to the season because of Ullmark, Leevin Meralainen, and other options faltering. James Reimer had to come in and keep the season on life support until Ullmark returned. It could be a great Cinderella run for Ottawa, but that would be because of improved goaltending from the fall.
Power outage for Senators in Game 1
Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Hurricanes played their game perfectly in Game 1, showing why they have become a Stanley Cup Playoff monster. They suppressed the Senators’ scoring chances, got solid goaltending, and converted on enough of their own chances to squeak out a win. Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall were the goal scorers for Carolina, two recent additions meant to improve scoring.
That is terrifying for the Senators, who have made it this far on solid team defense and timely scoring for young players. If Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle cannot score, Ottawa is going nowhere, no matter who their goalie is. That is what happened on Saturday, as those two star forwards combined for six shots on goal, but were shut out.
The Senators have had plenty of off-ice distractions this season. From Tkachuk’s Olympic celebrations to his controversial podcast episode with his dad, from the Ullmark rumor scandal to players calling out goalies in post-game press conferences, this has not been the perfect season. But they have an opportunity now to make all of that ancient history.
This is the second playoff appearance for this Senators core after last year’s six-game loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tkachuk was sensational in that series, scoring four goals and adding three assists. Stutzle and David Perron were the only other players with multiple goals. Ullmark played every game, posting an .880 save percentage and a 2.84 goals-against average.
This year is off to a much different start, but the result is still the same for Ottawa. They have to find a way to put together a complete game against a tough Hurricanes team. Otherwise, it will be a quick exit once again, and the offseason will be full of questions about Tkachuk’s future.
The Ottawa Senators stormed into the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 15-5-2 record in their final 22 games. They slipped in the first game of the postseason, losing 2-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Throughout the season, goaltending was an issue in Ottawa, even though they got a good performance on Saturday.