Linus Ullmark was stellar again in a shootout on Thursday night, saving all three shots he faced after regulation and overtime to help the Senators defeat the New York Islanders 2-1 on home ice. The Senators improved to 6-2-0 on the season with the win.
Even though Ullmark isn't the biggest fan of the shootout, he ranks seventh in save percentage all-time amongst goalies that have faced 40 or more shots with a .796 mark.
What makes him so successful is a bit mysterious to the non-goalies around him.
“I don’t think he bites too much, I mean, he’s a big boy in net, and he covers up most of that net, and he makes it look pretty easy. I don’t know, I’m not a goalie guy,” said Shane Pinto — who is at least enough of a goalie guy to have scored four goals on six shootout attempts in his career, including the winner on Thursday.
“I don’t know much about goaltending, to be honest, but he saves the puck, so that’s all I really care about,” said Ridly Greig on the matter, who scored the Senators’ lone goal in regulation.
“He’s won a Vezina Trophy. He’s a pretty good goalie. I don’t know. I’m not a goalie expert by any means, but I know he’s good,” said Travis Green.
Ullmark also improved to 6-0-0 on the season and set a new franchise record for consecutive wins, with 10 straight dating back to last April. The 33-year-old did have more of an idea as to why he was playing to a .948 save percentage and 1.20 goals-against average to begin the season — though he stressed that there were 76 games to go.
“It’s hard to say. It’s a combination of a lot of good things. It’s a combination of, my favourite Italian man in the trainer’s office that takes care of me every day, so that’s one of the things that helps me out,” said Ullmark, referring to Senators head athletic therapist Dom Nicoletta.
“The guys are blocking shots. My relationship with Sammy [Ersson]. The conversations and the work that me and [goaltending coach Justin Peters] and [coordinator of goaltending scouting and development Maciej Szwoch] are putting down as well, has come bearing fruit.”
