Ullmark Returns in Style, Lifts Senators to Statement Win Over Devils
Linus Ullmark didn’t just return to the crease on Saturday night - he made a statement. After 35 days away from game action, the Senators’ No. 1 goaltender stepped back between the pipes and delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he’s such a key piece in Ottawa’s puzzle. With 25 saves and a calm, composed presence in net, Ullmark helped guide the Senators to a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in front of a packed house at the Canadian Tire Centre.
And when he was introduced as the game’s first star, Ullmark pounded his chest and soaked in the roar of the 18,319 fans - a moment that clearly meant something more than just hockey.
“I felt like I came out of retirement,” Ullmark joked postgame. “It’s been a battle coming back. I was nervous, which I haven’t been in a long time - but that’s a positive.”
This wasn’t just another win. It was the Senators’ third straight to close out their homestand, and it came with a sense of momentum that’s been hard to find at times this season. Brady Tkachuk, Shane Pinto, Tim Stutzle, and Dylan Cozens all found the back of the net, with Stutzle’s third-period tally giving Ottawa breathing room at 3-1 before Pinto sealed it with an empty-netter.
But make no mistake: this night belonged to Ullmark.
The 30-year-old hadn’t started a game since December 27, when he was pulled against the Maple Leafs. The next day, he stepped away from the team to focus on his mental health. He returned to skating two weeks ago and had dressed as the backup twice before finally getting the nod against the Devils.
From the opening puck drop, Ullmark looked sharp - tracking pucks cleanly, controlling rebounds, and giving his team a steadying presence in net. And when the final horn sounded, the emotion was written all over his face.
“It was really hard holding it together, and I didn’t want to hold it together,” he said. “That’s something we’ve been working on - letting the feelings flow a little bit, because there is nothing bad about that.”
Ullmark’s return was timely, too. With Ottawa short on the blue line after Thomas Chabot exited with what looked like a right hand or arm injury - the team called it precautionary - the Senators had to finish the game with just five defensemen. That made Ullmark’s calm, efficient play even more important.
The Senators also got some key special teams contributions. Their power play struck twice, including Cozens’ go-ahead goal just 37 seconds into the third period. He cleaned up a rebound down low and buried it past Devils netminder Jake Allen to give Ottawa the lead for good.
On the other side of the special teams ledger, Ottawa’s penalty kill - which has taken its fair share of criticism this season - came up big, going a perfect 4-for-4. And they caught a break late in the third when New Jersey’s Connor Brown had a goal waved off due to a hand pass, after the puck deflected off Ullmark’s stick and into the net.
Before his absence, Ullmark had carried a heavy load, starting 28 of Ottawa’s first 37 games. While his numbers weren’t eye-popping, his 14-8-5 record showed he was giving the team a chance to win most nights - and his play was clearly trending upward in December.
Saturday night showed what a locked-in Ullmark can do for this team. His return doesn’t just give Ottawa a boost in the standings - it gives them something just as important: belief.