Fifteen games have been played by the Ottawa Senators this season. After a 3-2 overtime win yesterday against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Senators are 7-5-3 overall on the season.
For being a playoff team last season, the Senators have been having tough games at times. The good thing is it's still early in the season to turn things around quickly.
Tonight, the Senators host the Utah Mammoth to start a four-game home stand. The Senators recently had their latest report card given to them by Bleacher Report, and there's one area why the Senators received the grade they did.
Senators get a grade in the middle on latest report card on Bleacher Report
Two days ago, Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report wrote an article titled "Report Cards for Every NHL Team 1 Month Into the 2025-26 Season." Gretz's report card grade for the Senators was a C.
"The biggest issue with the Senators this season is that their goalies cannot make a save," Gretz said.
The depth up front has been solid for the Senators this season. With Brady Tkachuk injured, Tim Stutzle, Michael Amadio, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto and Claude Giroux are some of the forwards who have made up the offensive production that Tkachuk provides. However, the goaltending is an obvious struggle.
Linus Ullmark is having a struggling season. Just over a week ago, Ullmark was named the worst goaltender in the NHL by MoneyPuck. Ullmark has a 6-4-3 record with a 3.24 GAA and .866 save percentage this season. Not the numbers the Senators were hoping for from Ullmark in his second season as a Senator.
Ullmark appears to be back on the right track after earning a win yesterday against the Flyers. Ullmark made 20 saves in the win.
"At some point, Linus Ullmark is going to play better," Gretz said. "When he does, the Senators should start winning more games, given the way the rest of the roster is playing."
Leevi Merilainen has only started two games this season. Merilainen is 1-1-0, but his one loss was an ugly one when he allowed in seven goals against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 15.
Merilainen has had some AHL starts, but hasn't found the form he had last season in his first full season as Ullmark's backup.
"It's a good team," Gretz said about the Senators. "It just needs somebody to stop the puck every once in a while."
With 67 games remaining, there isn't a reason to panic for the Senators with their goaltenders, but Ullmark and Merilainen will need to improve fast to help the team win games.