Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark made an impressive 48 saves in a crucial 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at a very loud Canadian Tire Centre. The Sens are now 4-0-1 in their last five games while the Wings have lost six straight.
In just his second game as a Senator, Dylan Cozens scored the game-winning goal with under five minutes remaining, breaking a 1-1 tie. The power-play goal was expertly set up by Jake Sanderson, who faked a shot from the high slot before dishing the puck to Cozens on his left. With an open net in front of him, Cozens buried his first goal as a Senator.
But make no mistake, Ullmark was the hero on the night. If he can stay healthy and play like that, the sky's the limit for the Sens.
With this win, they extend their lead over the Red Wings to five points in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The victory also gives Ottawa a one point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild-card position, and a three point buffer over the New York Rangers, the best team below the playoff line.
The loss was particularly heartbreaking for the Wings, who not only were frustrated by Ullmark and the losing slide, but they celebrated what they thought was the game-tying goal at the buzzer. However, after review, it was determined that the puck had crossed the goal line just after time expired, sealing Ottawa's victory.
Both of Ottawa's goals came on the power play. David Perron scored in the second period after newcomer Fabian Zetterlund and Claude Giroux battled along the half-boards to win a puck. Giroux managed to get it over to Perron, who roofed one past former Senator Cam Talbot for the game's first goal.
Early in the third, Dylan Larkin tied things up after Matthew Highmore turned the puck over in the Ottawa slot. Larkin's wrist shot may have changed direction off Shane Pinto's stick blade on its way to beating Ullmark and spoiling his shutout bid.
The Senators looked like they might be heading for their fourth straight overtime game before Cozens buried his game winner. The goal was made possible by the salesmanship of Sanderson. He was selling shot and former Senator goalie Cam Talbot was buying.
With hopes of getting that shots-against count back down to a reasonable level, the Senators are right back at it on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, where the Flyers are trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
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