Senators Blank Ducks Behind Ullmark’s Masterclass

The Ottawa Senators continued their surge toward a playoff spot on Saturday night, delivering a clinical 2-0 performance against the Anaheim Ducks at the Canadian Tire Centre. The story of the night was veteran netminder Linus Ullmark, who turned aside all 23 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the season and the 14th of his distinguished career. The victory moves the Senators to a 33-23-9 record, keeping them firmly in the hunt for an Eastern Conference wild-card berth as the regular season enters its final stretch.

Ottawa’s defense was suffocating from the opening whistle, limiting high-danger chances and allowing Ullmark to see the puck clearly throughout the evening. The Senators’ commitment to their defensive identity was evident in the third period, where the Ducks mounted their strongest push. Linus Ullmark was particularly sharp in the final frame, making 11 saves to preserve the lead. His performance earned him the first star of the game and solidified his role as the backbone of this Ottawa roster during their most critical stretch of the 2025-26 campaign.

Offensively, the Senators relied on timely depth scoring to break the deadlock. After a scoreless first period, Michael Amadio opened the scoring at 3:54 of the second. Capitalizing on a 2-on-1 rush, Amadio took a precise feed from Shane Pinto and fired a wrist shot past Ducks goaltender Ville Husso. The goal injected life into the home crowd and rewarded Ottawa for a period in which they dominated the shot clock. Amadio’s ability to find space in transition has been a key asset for coach Travis Green’s squad this season.

The Senators doubled their advantage later in the second period with a rare short-handed marker. Thomas Chabot, returning to peak form after an injury-plagued first half of the season, joined the rush while Ottawa was down a man. Once again, it was Shane Pinto providing the setup, finding Chabot in the high slot for a clinical finish. The goal marked Chabot’s seventh of the season and essentially deflated an Anaheim team that struggled to find rhythm on the power play. Chabot’s two-way play remains a barometer for the Senators' success, and his offensive instincts were on full display.

For the Anaheim Ducks, the loss was a frustrating chapter in a four-game road trip. Despite a solid 27-save effort from Ville Husso, the Ducks (36-27-3) could not solve the Senators' structure. Anaheim, which currently sits atop the Pacific Division, struggled to generate sustained pressure, often settling for perimeter shots that Ullmark handled with ease. Cutter Gauthier and Jackson LaCombe led the Ducks in ice time, but the absence of key contributors like Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry due to injury was palpable in their lack of finishing touch.

As the Senators prepare to host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, the mood in the locker room is one of quiet confidence. Ottawa has won four of their last five games and is playing some of their most disciplined hockey of the year. With Tim Stutzle leading the team in scoring and Ullmark finding his rhythm in the crease, the Senators are finally resembling the contender many expected them to be at the start of the season. If they can maintain this level of defensive consistency, a return to the postseason for the first time since 2017 appears increasingly likely.