Saves in spades: How Linus Ullmark willed the Sens to victory over Seattle

“Sometimes, you run into a hot goaltender.”

Those were Linus Ullmark’s first words to the media on Monday night after losing to Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators.

“I’ve been on that side of the coin as well,” he added — a side of the coin he was certainly on Thursday night, as he willed the Sens to victory over the Seattle Kraken.

Most notable of his 30 saves was a jaw-dropping glove flash with just over four to play in the second frame.

That glove save was a preview of what to come. After a Chandler Stephenson goal early in the third, Ullmark saved 16 straight shots, including two in the shootout to ice the game and secure two points for Sens.

An honourable mention goes to Jake Sanderson, who made a pair of saves himself on a third-period penalty kill, and who Ullmark made sure to shout out after the game.

When the game was on the line, the Swede was at his best. Here are his five biggest saves from the third period and overtime, in chronological order.

11:16 of the 3rd period, glove save on Chandler Stephenson

With Stephenson looking to complete the hat trick, he walks in from the point all the way down to the faceoff hashes. With a clear shot and his passing lanes cut off, Stephenson goes far side, but Ullmark was expecting it and nabs it out of the air. With the Sens on the penalty kill, this is the second of four massive saves to keep the Sens within one, and the crowd in the game.

10:33 of the 3rd period, pad save on Vince Dunn

Still on the same penalty kill, Vince Dunn walks into a booming one-timer from the top of the circles. With no one in front of the net, Ullmark has a clear view of the puck and comes out all the way outside of the paint, getting his left toe extended just enough to get a solid piece of it. This is where Sanderson comes in, making an extraordinary diving play to sweep the puck away from Jordan Eberle.

3:44 of overtime, chest save on Matty Beniers

The first of his five overtime saves, it’s certainly not the flashiest of the night. But with the Senators scrambling — Thomas Chabot had circled away from the net to retrieve his stick — Ullmark decided to challenge the shooter again outside of the blue paint, which proved to be the right decision. With that positioning, Ullmark was able to swallow up the high-danger look and get a faceoff.

1:32 of overtime, pad/stick save on Jared McCann

It’s quite hard to tell if Ullmark gets this one with his stick or pad, but either way, with 40-goal scorer Jared McCann ripping one from the bottom of the circles, it’s quite an impressive save, and equally as impressive to direct it to the corner with the potent Dunn lurking, hoping for a rebound.

2nd Seattle shot of shootout, pad save on Jared McCann

Although Jake Sanderson was inches away from winning the game before time expired in overtime, this one would need a shootout. McCann tries to find a hole on Ullmark before taking it wide right, but Ullmark pushes from right post to left post and shuts the door on McCann, setting up a chance for Shane Pinto to win the game.

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