Followers of the Ottawa Senators may very well be forgiven for feeling just like the cynical weatherman Phil Connors, performed by Invoice Murray within the 1993 comedy traditional “Groundhog Day”. Primarily based on what they’ve seen up to now this season, goaltending appears to stay an issue in Ottawa – regardless of what a succession of normal managers (GMs) and coaches have finished.
Sens followers thought the offseason acquisition of 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark can be their crew’s salvation between the pipes. When Senators’ GM Steve Staios signed him to a four-year extension on Oct. 9, the Bytown devoted heaved a sigh of reduction. Certainly this could put an finish to their crew’s goaltending merry-go-round that has seen 14 puck stoppers minding the twine in Ottawa since Craig Anderson left city on the finish of the 2019-20 season.
At time of writing, heading right into a matchup on Nov. 21 in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights, it seems to be like that might not be true with the Senators ranked 27th among the many NHL’s 32 groups in save share (SV%) and 22nd in goal-against per recreation (GAA). Total, the crew’s goaltending is ranked 20th within the league.
Let’s have a look at why the Senators’ goaltending has upset so far within the season.
Senators’ Goaltending Might Be Higher in 2024-25
When requested about his crew’s goaltending at a press convention on Nov. 20 the day after the Edmonton Oilers lit up the aim mild behind Ullmark 5 instances, Staios stated bluntly, “It may very well be higher.” Even so, he believes in his goalies declaring, “It (goaltending) will get there. We all know it’ll. We’ve got confidence in that.”
If his goaltending is to “get there”, then Ullmark, broadly thought to be the Senators’ number-one netminder should enhance. His efficiency merely hasn’t met expectations. He has allowed 5 targets in 4 video games of his 11 begins up to now this season. In these begins he’s posted a disappointing SV% of simply .884 and a GAA of two.99. Even for a run-of-the-mill NHL crease-keeper, the corresponding numbers are .903 and a couple of.91.
What’s troublesome about lots of the targets that Ullmark has allowed is that they’re what’s recognized within the goaltending commerce as “softies.” In actual fact, a number of of them had been so comfortable that you just’d be tempted to drag up a blanket and have a nap.
The irony is that on the Oct. 22 episode of The Hockey Writers’ podcast, I together with The Athletic’s new Ottawa beat author Julian McKenzie argued that the Senators have a goaltending drawback (see the phase on goaltending beginning at 12:32). That’s not due to Ullmark, however moderately, backup goaltender Anton Forsberg.
When the episode was recorded, McKenzie and I had been reacting to what had occurred within the three video games the Senators had performed after Ullmark was injured within the Oct. 12 recreation in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens, forcing head coach Travis Inexperienced to show to Forsberg. Throughout these three tilts in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Senators allowed 14 targets. Forsberg might simply barely be thought of an NHL-calibre goalie recording a SV% of .865 and a goals-against common of a whopping 4.16 per recreation.
My how the tables have turned! In his eight begins this season, Forsberg has a SV% of .903 and a GAA of two.76. In his final 5 begins, these numbers are a powerful .920 and a couple of.20. Not solely that, however he’s made a case for Inexperienced to present him the nod as beginning goaltender along with his two shutouts. On that measure he’s tied for second within the league.
Senators Want Extra Consistency in Aim
Consistency is an issue that Staios has acknowledged explaining that, “we have now some basis of fine defensive play – it’s one a part of our recreation the place we’ve been constant. Now we’re wanting so as to add that in different areas.” That sought-after consistency should lengthen to his crew’s crease in the event that they’re to see success this season.
Ullmark hasn’t been in a position to string collectively greater than a two-game profitable streak this season. In three of 4 wins to his credit score within the 11 video games he has began, he has notched a SV% of effectively above .900. Even so, within the remaining six he has been effectively below that mark. Whereas Ullmark was magnificent in his shutout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 12, he went on to present ghastly performances instantly after in tilts in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers.
It’s laborious to say whether or not Forsberg can carry consistency to the Senators’ aim crease. That’s as a result of he’s solely performed eight video games and the one time he’s seen constant motion in aim was final month over a two-week stretch when Ullmark was recovering from his harm.
What should fear Staios and his teaching workers about Forsberg is that his two shutouts masks some terrible statistics. Pass over these shutouts, Forsberg’s SV% is an uninspired .847 and his GAA is a frightful 3.33. That’s merely not NHL-calibre goaltending.
The priority McKenzie and I shared on the Senators’ Roundtable was that pretty much as good as Ullmark is anticipated to be for Ottawa, he can’t play all 82 video games in an NHL season. His file bears that out. In his 10 NHL seasons, he has by no means performed greater than 49 video games.
All of which means whether or not it’s accidents or the necessity to relaxation Ullmark, Inexperienced might want to flip to his backup goalies for as many as 30 video games this season. Primarily based on what I’ve seen of Forsberg, 20-30 video games with him in aim is sufficient to put the Senators in a world of harm.
What’s extra, the Senators’ depth behind Forsberg is a query mark. the Belleville Senators’ Mads Sogaard, with simply 28 NHL video games below his belt over the past 4 seasons, has notched a SV% of .881 and a GAA of three.53. That exhibits he wants extra time to develop within the minors. Past the 6-foot-7 Dane, there’s not a lot else in Belleville that the Senators might faucet if the necessity arose.
Senators Want Higher Goaltending to Make 2025 Playoffs
Sitting at time of writing with an 8-9-1 file and a .472 factors share (PTS%), the Senators are rapidly digging themselves a gap which will likely be troublesome to climb out of. They in all probability want a .600 PTS% to qualify for postseason play by a wild-card spot. To achieve that they’ll must play .636 hockey over their remaining 64 video games.
Associated: Ottawa Senators Playoff Hopes Hold within the Stability in November
That’s a tall order for a crew just like the Senators. To satisfy it they’ll want a lot better goaltending than they’ve seen so removed from their Swedish netminding duo. As their starter, Ullmark should discover a technique to stand on his head every now and then and steal video games from higher groups. For his half, Forsberg must be adequate to no less than maintain his crew in video games that they have to win.
The Senators must work with what they’ve in aim – no less than for now. And it appears Staios is aware of that, saying “you’re at all times areas to enhance (however) I can’t see one main space with this group that might should be addressed.”
