OTTAWA — Goaltender Linus Ullmark delivered a stellar performance, making a season-high 48 saves to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Ullmark’s standout effort was particularly evident in the second period, where he stopped all 27 shots faced, tying a franchise record for most saves in a single period. This win marks the Senators’ fourth in their last five games, bolstering their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The Senators opened the scoring at 7:39 of the second period with a power-play goal from David Perron, who beat Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot with a wrist shot from the left circle. Detroit responded in the third period when Dylan Larkin found the back of the net, leveling the game.
The decisive moment came with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. On a power play, newly acquired forward Dylan Cozens scored his first goal as a Senator, securing the 2-1 lead.
Despite outshooting Ottawa 49-23, the Red Wings couldn’t overcome Ullmark’s exceptional goaltending. This loss extends Detroit’s losing streak to six games, pushing them further from playoff contention.
Reflecting on the game, Ullmark acknowledged the chaotic nature of the match and emphasized the need for the team to improve, stating, “We have to be honest with each other. It’s not a sustainable type of game to play if we’re going to keep winning down the stretch.”
Senators forward Dylan Cozens praised Ullmark’s performance, noting, “You’re just shocked by some of the saves he was making there. You know, you thought it was a sure goal and he just finds a way to make a save.”
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan commended his team’s effort despite the loss, saying, “We ran into a goalie that had a career night and, unfortunately for us, we couldn’t find a way to beat him.”
With this win, the Senators (33-25-5) hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Red Wings (30-28-6) sit four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild-card position.
Ottawa will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games as they aim to secure their first playoff berth in eight years.
