The Ottawa Senators are in the thick of the playoff hunt but have hit a rough patch with three consecutive losses. Their recent skid began with a shootout defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by setbacks against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.
In the game against the Panthers, goaltender Linus Ullmark had a tough outing, conceding five goals in just over 14 minutes, prompting head coach Travis Green to make a change. Green was quick to clarify his decision, emphasizing that Ullmark remains their go-to guy. "I pulled him because the team was underperforming, not because of his play," Green explained.
Ullmark's stats were far from ideal, allowing 11 goals on 16 shots in the first 15 minutes. But it wasn’t just on him-allowing 16 shots in such a short span points to broader defensive issues.
Green didn't hold back in his postgame comments, expressing disappointment with the team's sluggish start. "We talked about needing a strong start, and we just didn’t have the energy.
We weren’t good enough tonight," he stated bluntly.
Defenseman Jordan Spencer echoed this sentiment, admitting the team wasn't prepared for the Panthers' early onslaught. "We just weren’t ready, myself included.
It’s tough to recover from two quick goals," Spencer remarked. The focus now shifts to learning from these mistakes and moving forward.
Ullmark will have an opportunity to rebound as the Senators take on the Buffalo Sabres next. The stakes are high for both teams.
The Sabres are on the brink of clinching their first playoff spot since 2011, while the Senators, sitting at 38-26-10, desperately need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They’re currently fifth in the Atlantic Division, just two points shy of the Columbus Blue Jackets for that coveted final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.