When the 2024-25 season arrived, Anton Forsberg had a lot of uncertainity and needed to earn trust back from the Ottawa Senators. Although he was pulled in his first start of the season and signs pointed to a disaster start, Forsberg had a 3-2-0 record after his shutout against the Seattle Kraken on Nov. 2.
Then a horrific eight-game skid happened. Forsberg lost seven of his next eight starts. In all eight games, Forsberg allowed in at least three goals. The Senators were in another tough position of what to do with Forsberg when he allowed in four goals in his first game back from injury on Jan. 3 against the St. Louis Blues.
Thoughts of being done with Forsberg may have been brought up to due Leevi Merilainen's incredible rise when Linus Ullmark was out for over one month. Now, Forsberg has showed the consistency the Senators have been waiting for this season.
Forsberg now is hot in between the pipes
Since Jan. 19, Forsberg has made five starts in goal. In those five starts, Forsberg has stood tall for the Senators.
Forsberg is 4-1-0 in the five starts, but his play has gotten better. Forsberg allowed in one goal in three consecutive starts. Despite allowing in four goals this past Thursday against the Washington Capitals, Forsberg made 31 saves against a talented Capitals offense to help the Senators knock off the best team in the NHL at the time.
In one of the three starts Forsberg allowed in one goal, it came against the hated Toronto Maple Leafs. Forsberg allowed in one goal under four minutes into the game, then shut the Maple Leafs down for the remainder of the game by making 28 saves to help the Senators earn a big 2-1 win.
Against the Nashville Predators last night, Forsberg made 25 saves to earn his eighth win of the season. Forsberg's play helped the Senators earn their fifth consecutive win ahead of their game tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. ET.
With his recent hot stretch, Forsberg has an 8-9-1 record with a 2.82 goals against average and .895 save percentage on the season. At 32 years old, this recent hot stretch was needed for both Forsberg and the Senators.
Forsberg's play over his last five starts has helped the Senators be in third place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points. Not many at this point of the season would've predicted the Senators would have 29 wins, but they do.