OTTAWA, Ontario — In a display of remarkable skill, Linus Ullmark showcased his goaltending prowess as the Ottawa Senators achieved a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. Ullmark, who the Senators secured through a trade last year, delivered a stellar performance by stopping an impressive 48 shots.
The netminder was particularly extraordinary in the second period, halting all 27 attempts by the Red Wings, and tying an existing franchise record with his consistent performance.
Dylan Cozens made his mark by scoring his inaugural goal for the Senators, complemented by another goal from David Perron. The Red Wings saw Dylan Larkin squeeze a goal past Ullmark’s short side during the third period, while Detroit’s goaltender Cam Talbot managed 21 saves.
Meanwhile, Petr Mrazek, recently acquired from Chicago, participated in his first game since rejoining the Red Wings, marking Craig Smith’s debut in Detroit.
Observations indicate that the Red Wings have experienced a decline in their scoring capabilities during their current six-game losing streak. During this period, Detroit has succeeded in scoring more than two goals just once.
In contrast, the Senators’ victory allowed them to claim the first wild-card positioning in the Eastern Conference, edging one point ahead of Columbus and three points clear of the New York Rangers.
A crucial moment materialized on a power play for Ottawa following a mishap when Tim Stützle’s stick broke while shooting from the point. The stick fragmentive catapulted to the area behind the net, where Brady Tkachuk skillfully regained possession and relayed the puck to Jake Sanderson, who extended the play to Cozens, ultimately resulting in the winning goal.
Despite Detroit’s 27 shots on goal during the second period— the highest by any team in a period this season— they failed to score. Historically, the previous instance a team registered as many shots without success was when Carolina attempted 28 shots in the final period against Nashville on January 5, 2023, ending in a 5-3 loss.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings are set to host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, while the Senators will take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
