OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators followers have been dreaming of watching Linus Ullmark play spectacularly in entrance of them at Canadian Tire Centre for the reason that goalie was acquired from the Boston Bruins in June.
Ullmark didn’t disappoint beginning in his first sport as an Ottawa Senator on Thursday evening, turning apart 28 of 29 photographs. He endured a poor defensive construction in entrance of him within the first interval, when the Sabres bombarded Ottawa’s crease with 24 photographs. In current seasons, the Senators would have been buried by such an terrible opening body, however Ullmark confirmed why the workforce wished him by placing on a clinic and stopping all 4 high-danger photographs he confronted within the first (per Natural Stat Trick). The solely shot to slide previous him was a foul angle try from Josh Dunne late within the interval.
“He was great, to say the least,” stated coach Travis Green.
There had been loads of highlights from Ullmark in his pre-season debut earlier than he was changed by Dustin Tokarski in the midst of the second interval. One that notably stood out was a sprawling effort to kick out his left leg and switch apart a Mason Jobst alternative that appeared destined to go in.
Ullmark was additionally terrific on the penalty kill, making two saves in tight earlier than snapping an exquisite glove save off a shot from the purpose late within the first.
Last season, the Senators gave up a aim on the primary or second shot in opposition to in a surprising 21 of their 82 video games. Playing from behind, the Senators uncovered themselves defensively much more, and the goaltenders typically unravelled.
The Senators hardly performed an excellent defensive sport in Thursday’s 3-2 loss to Buffalo, giving up 41 photographs to their 16, although nearly all of the possibilities they allowed got here within the first interval and the lineup they iced was removed from the one we’ll see opening evening. Ottawa solely misplaced in additional time when Noah Ostlund slapped the puck previous Tokarski, who allowed two objectives on 12 photographs in his half of the sport.
Despite the loss, the takeaway from this sport is a largely optimistic one: Ullmark appeared just like the difference-making goalie the Senators want him to be. Even with the lacklustre early defensive effort, Ottawa by no means trailed.
That distinction is within the numbers. Ullmark had the NHL’s seventh-best objectives saved above anticipated final season at 14.8, per MoneyPuck. Meantime Joonas Korpisalo, Ottawa’s starter final season, had the second-worst GSAE at minus-16.2, which interprets to a 31-goal distinction between the 2.
Had the Senators given up 31 fewer objectives final season, they might have squeaked into the highest half of the league in objectives in opposition to – simply forward of untamed card Washington — and might need been pushing for the playoffs.
Ullmark’s first impression in Ottawa was that he could possibly be that X-Factor who pushes them ahead in 2024-25.
Other observations:
• Speed kills within the NHL and Noah Gregor, the 26-year outdated left-winger, has a ton of it. Gregor was signed as an unrestricted free agent within the low season and , as GM Steve Staios describes it, brings a “unique skillset.”
Gregor’s pace was demonstrated within the first interval, when he picked up the puck at his personal blueline to race forward and single-handedly earn a 2-on-1 that led to an exquisite aim within the first interval. Gregor had different moments, too, later showcasing his hand abilities by evading a number of Buffalo gamers and discovering himself on their own in entrance of the web for one more alternative, although he couldn’t outlast Sabres goaltender Felix Sandstrom.
Gregor is displaying he’s not a one-dimensional participant. He fills lanes, doesn’t cheat on the defensive finish, has good arms and a stable shot. He’s additionally an efficient penalty killer and has some chunk to his sport, throwing his physique round and ending his checks.
The journeyman stated he isn’t taking his function on this workforce with no consideration.
“I’ve still got to make a good first impression. It’s a new staff, new organization, so I’m just trying to show what I can bring to the team, and then let the lineup play out as it comes,” he stated.
He’s made one heck of an impression thus far. Gregor seems to be prone to make the roster this season as a fourth-liner who might conceivably transfer up the lineup.
• Carter Yakemchuk continued to indicate his excellence, because the high-flying defenceman drafted seventh general by the Ottawa Senators in 2024 has come out of the pre-season gates flying. Despite saying he was a bit nervous earlier in video games, he’s wanting extra assured and was as soon as once more a standout on Thursday evening, after his breakout efficiency in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday that was capped off with a stunning overtime-winning aim.
On Thursday Yakemchuk flashed once more. In the primary interval he confirmed poise defending in transition by making a clear stick-check at his personal blueline that result in Gregor’s 2-on-1 the winger scored on, and earned the defenceman an help. Yakemchuk earned his second help of the evening on the ability play after strolling the puck previous two Sabres defenders and discovering Tyler Boucher in entrance, resulting in Adam Gaudette’s aim.
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“Definitely when I get going, I start taking a little bit more risk and start making more plays,” Yakemchuk stated.
Some of these dangerous performs led to turnovers, however that’s a part of his growing sport.
• Cole Reinhardt, Ottawa’s sixth-round decide in 2020, could not make this workforce straight out of camp, however his efforts are being seen and will put him in line for a future call-up. “That’s a great example of a guy trying to show what he’s made of, trying to make the team, maybe getting outside his comfort zone a bit in certain areas,” stated Green. “He’s a strong skater and a strong person, you can see it the way he’s built.”
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