Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark stands tall in Game 2 loss to Hurricanes

RALEIGH — Linus Ullmark snagged Taylor Hall’s one-timer with a jaw-dropping glove save midway through the second period to keep his team in the fight.

After the Ottawa Senators pushed back with a pair of goals to tie the Hurricanes 2-2, their goaltender denied Jordan Staal — one of numerous huge stops — in the dying seconds of regulation.

Ullmark then bested Jordan Martinook on a penalty shot to cap a bizarre overtime sequence.

The Carolina forward would eventually get his revenge, however, and Ottawa again sits in another uncomfortable playoff hole heading home.

Martinook scored at 13:53 of double OT as the Hurricanes outlasted the Senators 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series Monday.

Ullmark finished with 43 saves on a night where Ottawa was on its heels early. He turned aside 27 efforts off Carolina sticks in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat in Game 1.

“Could have been easily three or four nothing,” said Senators winger Drake Batherson, who scored his team’s first goal of the series on Frederik Andersen in the second period after Ullmark robbed Hall. “He keeps us in it and we were able to tie it up. He’s been playing awesome, keeps us in with the penalty shot.

“Nothing but good things to say.”

That penalty shot came after an apparent Carolina winner off the stick of Mark Jankowski in the first OT was called back for offside upon video review as Staal and Martinook entered the zone on a delayed infraction. The latter was hooked by backchecking Ottawa forward Warren Foegele, which led to the one-on-one situation.

With hundreds of fans having already left for the exits — Senators owner Michael Andlauer was also no longer in his private suite high above the Lenovo Center ice — Ullmark again flashed his glove to thwart Martinook and ensure the night would continue.

“He’s been amazing,” said Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk, whose club found iron multiple times and had plenty of chances to get the victory. “He kept us in it.”

Ullmark, who tied for 21st in save percentage (. 891) and 13th in goals-against average (2.73) among netminders with at least 40 appearances in the regular season, was not made available to reporters post-game. A member of the team’s public relations staff said he was receiving treatment.

“He’s been playing unbelievable,” said Senators centre Dylan Cozens, who tied the game in the second. “Key saves in big moments. We can do a better job for him back there and helping limit some of those looks.”

Despite the result, Ullmark’s performance was his best in what has been a trying 2025-26.

The Swede took a leave of absence in late December for personal reasons — later revealed to be related to mental health — and was then subsequently the focus of internet rumours regarding his personal life.

Ullmark returned to action Jan. 31 before posting 14-4-3 record with a .904 save percentage and a 2.41 GAA over his final 21 starts to help Ottawa get to 99 points and secure the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.

“Linus has kept us in it there, especially made some big saves in the second,” Senators head coach Travis Green said of Monday’s showing. “I really liked our game after that. I felt like they controlled the first half of the game. I felt like we controlled the last half.”

The Senators, who returned to the playoffs last April following a seven-year absence and are looking for their first series win since 2017, found themselves in the exact same spot 12 months ago.

Ottawa fell in consecutive road contests to the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the second loss also coming in OT, in what would eventually end in a six-game defeat after going down 3-0.

Ottawa will now desperately look to avoid a similar deficit against the East’s top seed with Game 3 set for Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre.

“We haven’t liked both the results,” Tkachuk said. “But the confidence and the belief that I have in my teammates and we have in each other is high as it’s ever been.”

FAMILY SUPPORT

Tkachuk had some familiar faces in attendance, with older brother Matthew of the Florida Panthers along with their parents — Keith and Chantal — in the building.

Matthew returned the favour with his team outside the playoffs after Brady supported Florida’s consecutive Stanley Cup wins in 2024 and 2025.

MINUTEMEN

With both Artem Zub and Tyler Kleven out with undisclosed injuries, and Nick Jensen (knee) not expected to play again this spring, the Senators were minus three of their top-six defence options in Game 2.

Jake Sanderson played a game-high 43 minutes six seconds, while Thomas Chabot (40:50) and Jordan Spence (39:01) also put in leg-aching performances.

“Giving us a chance every night,” Tkachuk said. “This last month, they’ve really stepped up their game. They did again.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2026.