Through 19 games, the Ottawa Senators have been able to get over the team's goaltending. Overall, with Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen, the Senators have the third-lowest save percentage in the NHL of .865.
Because of goaltending, Bleacher Report was once again able to point out the Senators' biggest growing problem to start the season, and it's because of Ullmark.
Bleacher Report points to Ullmark's struggles again
Earlier today, Bleacher Report's Adam Gretz wrote an article titled "Every NHL Team's Growing Problem Right Now During the 2025-26 Season." For the Senators, Gretz named Ullmark's slow start as the team's biggest growing problem.
"He has not yet repeated that performance this season, and goaltending as a whole has led to some big issues for the Senators," Gretz said about Ullmark from last season to this season.
Last season, Ullmark was the first Senator to win 25 games in his first season with the team since Dominik Hasek did in the 2005-06 season. Ullmark also added a 2.72 GAA and .909 save percentage last season.
This season, it's been a struggle for Ullmark. In 15 starts, Ullmark has a 6-5-4 record with a 3.08 GAA and .874 save percentage. Because of his bad stats from earlier this month, MoneyPuck named Ullmark the worst goaltender in the NHL.
If there is one positive lately, Ullmark has been better. Over his past three starts, Ullmark has had a .909 save percentage or better in each game. The first one was making 20 saves on Nov. 8 to help the Senators earn a road win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The second game was a 3-2 overtime loss last Tuesday to the Dallas Stars, but Ullmark made 30 saves to keep the Senators in the game. Four days ago, in the Senators' last game, Ullmark made 17 saves in the 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
The Senators can hope that with Ullmark's recent three-game stretch, it can be a sign for better things to get into form. Last season, Ullmark got off to a slow start but got hot in December and found his form.
Tomorrow night's game against the Anaheim Ducks is the start of a seven-game road trip for the Senators, but it's also a chance to get Ullmark into better form for the long haul of this season.
"If Ullmark returns to form and when Brady Tkachuk returns this could still be a really good team in the Eastern Conference," Gretz said.