The Ottawa Senators are at a pivotal moment in their season, and their goaltending needs to step up to the challenge. As they gear up for a back-to-back weekend with matchups against the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks at the Canadian Tire Centre, the spotlight is on their netminders, Linus Ullmark and James Reimer.
Coach Travis Green is keeping his cards close to his chest, not revealing who will start against the Ducks. Ullmark had a rough outing, stopping just 20 of 23 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile, Reimer is coming off a stellar 16-save shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, capping off a successful five-game road trip with a 4-0-1 record.
The Senators are investing heavily in their goaltending, shelling out $11.75 million this season. Despite this, they find themselves at the bottom of the NHL rankings in save percentage at .871. Both goalies in Belleville are also struggling with sub-.900 save percentages.
Ullmark, in the first year of his $8.25 million-per-season contract, shares the sixth-highest salary spot among NHL goaltenders. With a 19-9-7 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, and a .883 save percentage, he's been mostly solid since returning from a mental health leave in late January.
Part of the financial equation includes the $1 million salary the Senators are covering for Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins, a remnant of the trade that brought Ullmark to Ottawa in June 2025.
Mads Sogaard remains in the minors on a one-way contract after the Senators couldn't move him at the NHL trade deadline. He'll finish the season in Belleville, where the team has struggled defensively, allowing 214 goals, the most in the AHL.
In a bit of roster maneuvering, the Senators managed to offload Hunter Shepard’s $400,000 salary by sending him to the Laval Rocket at the AHL deadline, easing some financial pressure.
As the Senators push for a playoff spot, the performance of their goaltenders will be crucial. It's time for Ullmark and Reimer to deliver when it matters most.