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Tim Stutzle #18 of the Ottawa Senators skates against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in Game Five in Toronto on Tuesday. Photo by Claus Andersen /Getty ImagesArticle content
Linus Ullmark was the Zero Hero.
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The timing of his first shutout in the playoffs was perfect.
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The Ottawa Senators’ top goaltender made 27 stops to stretch the Battle of Ontario to a pivotal Game 6 on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
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“It doesn’t matter in a playoff series. You can lose 1-0 or 6-2, it’s still a loss,” Ullmark told TSN 1200’s Dean Brown. “My job is to stop pucks. It’s about battling it out with the other goalie and the other team, and trying to make more saves.
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“You’ve got to earn it every night and not think that it’s just going to happen because you never know.”
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His 31 stops in the club’s Game 4 victory over the Leafs resulted in his best performance in the playoffs. Ullmark came into this game with a 3.44 goals-against average and an .848 save percentage.
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Those numbers don’t look good on the surface, but Ullmark has gotten better as this series has extended. The Leafs feel they need to do a better job in front of them.
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“I don’t read the media nowadays. I learned in my career it doesn’t matter what you guys say,” Ullmark said. “There are always going to be people doubting you. All that matters is what’s said in the room.”
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RELISHING UNDERDOG ROLE
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The Senators have never been favoured to win this series.
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The Leafs won the Atlantic Division and are supposed to challenge for a Stanley Cup this spring.
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This is the Senators’ first trip to the playoffs in eight years, and for many of these players, this is their first experience to learn what it takes to win at this time of year, because the game changes.
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“Our comfort level playing in the playoffs has gotten better,” said coach Travis Green. “Our group has a lot of confidence in themselves. I don’t think a lot of people gave us much of a chance in this series, and rightfully so; they’ve got a really good team over there.
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“But there is a lot of belief in our team if we can play our game and get to our game for 60 minutes.”
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We’ve stated throughout this series that the Senators have looked more comfortable.
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CAPTAIN CAN’T WAIT
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Brady Tkachuk promised the crowd as he was introduced as one of the stars after a 4-3 overtime victory over the Leafs in Game 4 on Saturday night in Ottawa that his club would be back.
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The Senators have delivered on their promise.
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Tkachuk can’t wait to get home.
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“Now we’ve just got to deliver another win,” said Tkachuk. “Whenever we play in front of this unbelievable fanbase and city, you feel the love and the passion.”
