After losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, the Ottawa Senators had trouble finding their next true top goaltender after Craig Anderson. To solve the goaltending issue in June 2024, the Senators traded for 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins.
As the Bruins finished in last place in the Atlantic Division, the Senators made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 with Ullmark as the top goaltender on the depth chart this season. Ullmark was a key piece to the Senators' season to help clinch a playoff spot. The Ullmark trade looks better for the Senators with the Bruins failing to make the 2025 playoffs.
With the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs days away, the Senators are eager to prove people wrong and capture the Stanley Cup. However, there is reason for Ottawa to be concerned with Ullmark with the playoffs on the horizon.
Ullmark needs to erase his playoff struggles as a Bruin
In his three years with the Bruins from 2022-2024, Ullmark got to play in the playoffs in all three years, but his regular season play didn't live up to playoff expectations for the Bruins.
In 10 playoff games with nine of them being starts, Ullmark has recorded a 3-6 record with a 3.59 goals against average and .887 save percentage in his playoff career. Those numbers can be a concern with the playoffs on the horizon for a top goaltender on the depth chart.
Ullmark lost both his starts in the 2022 playoffs with recording a 4.16 goals against average, but his 2023 playoff performance was the eye opener to most. While Ullmark's 2022-23 season was memorable with winning the Vezina Trophy, his playoff numbers were poor while playing on statistically the best team in NHL history.
Ullmark went 3-3 in the 2023 playoffs, but his performance in both Game 5 and Game 6 is what drew concern. With the Bruins up 3-1 in the series and a chance the clinch the series at home in Game 5, Ullmark allowed in an overtime winner to Matthew Tkachuk to give the Florida Panthers a 4-3 win. Even with losing Game 5, the Bruins still had a chance to clinch the series in Florida the next game.
In Game 6, Ullmark allowed in six goals in the Panthers' 7-5 win. Due to his poor play, Ullmark wouldn't start Game 7 of the series. Jeremy Swayman got the start over Ullmark instead, and the Panthers completed one of the greatest upsets in sports history with defeating the Bruins in seven games.
In the 2024 playoffs, Ullmark played in two games with one of them being a start. Ullmark went 0-1 with a combined 3.90 goals against average and .886 save percentage.
Ullmark has shown this season why he can be a top goaltender in Ottawa. However, the Senators will need Ullmark to play his best hockey in the playoffs. Against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, Ullmark will have a tough task going up against Toronto's talented offense.
Even with a talented offense, Ullmark went 2-0-0 against the Maple Leafs this season. Both wins for Ullmark came in Toronto. One of the wins was a shutout win in November for Ullmark.