Could Sunday night's game prove to be a defining moment in the Ottawa Senators' season? They surely hope not after seeing their number 1 goalie, Linus Ullmark, be unable to finish the game against the Edmonton Oilers.
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Indeed, the recipient of the Vezina Trophy of the year 2022-2023 did not return to the game at the end of the first period because of an upper body injury; Leevi Merilainen took his place in front of the Senators net after returning from the locker room. After the clash, Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters that the Swede had felt some stiffness. Consequently, the team decided to replace him.
This is bad news for the Ottawa team which was on a roll before its meeting with Connor McDavid's gang. She had won six consecutive games and was in the playoff picture; the club has not qualified since spring 2017.
Ullmark boasted a 2.37 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage before facing the Oilers, who scored once at his expense on Sunday.
Not enough
Moreover, Green's troops did not deliver a bad performance in Edmonton, but even if they limited McDavid to one assist, they lost 3 to 1. It was their first setback since on December 8.
Zach Hyman scored the decisive goal during a power play in the second period.
Hyman scores the winning goal against the Senators –
Viktor Arvidsson and Adam Henrique also scored for the local favorites, who overtook the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division with their third straight win. Nick Cousins was the only player to beat Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.
Cousins surprises Bouchard and the Oilers –
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