New Senators head coach Travis Green had a lot to prove to everyone when he was hired by the Ottawa Senators to become the next head coach for the 2024-25 season. So far through 12 games this season, the Senators have a 6-6-0 record.
One area that has been an immediate concern from last season to this season is Ottawa's inabilities to win games on the road. In six road games this season, Ottawa have a putrid 1-5-0 record.
Green has had it tough with having both of his goaltenders play incosiistent at times this season. However, Green made the wrong decision on which goaltender to start, and it has happened for the second time this season in a big way.
Green starting Ullmark over red hot Forsberg has comeback to bite him back twice now
Last night, Green opted to start Linus Ullmark over Anton Forsberg against the Buffalo Sabres. In the Senators' last game before Buffalo this past Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken, Forsberg recorded his second shutout of the season. Instead of rolling with his hot backup, Green went back to Ullmark.
Ullmark's start went awful as he allowed in five goals. Three of his five goals came in the opening minute of the second period and third period. Ullmark allowed two goals in a 16-second span to start the third period in the Senators' 5-1 loss against the Sabres.
This wasn't the first time Green made the mistake of starting Ullmark when Forsberg was hot. Forsberg shutout the Utah Hockey Club on Oct. 22. Instead of playing Forsberg again three nights later against the Vegas Golden Knights, Green went to Ullmark in his first game back from his strain injury. Ullmark allowed in five goals including two in an awful third period collapse.
Forsberg has had early season struggles with getting pulled in his first start of the season, but when a goaltender is hot, it's critical to role with him. This is now the second time this season that not keeping Forsberg in net when he's hot has backfired on Green.
With allowing in five goals for the second time in six starts this season, Ullmark might not be the goaltender in between the pipes tomorrow night with the Senators hosting the New York Islanders. Whether if it's Ullmark or Forsberg starting against the Islanders, the Senators desperately need a bounce back win after a brutal 5-1 loss to the Sabres last night.