The Ottawa Senators are heading to the postseason thanks to a 3-0 blanking of the New York Islanders on Saturday. Ottawa’s victory combined with the Detroit Red Wings loss to the New Jersey Devils clinched a playoff berth for the Senators in back-to-back seasons.
In addition; by virtue of Boston losing to Tampa Bay, Ottawa moves into the no. 1 Wildcard position for the time-being based on the regulation tie-breaker.
How did they get to this point? Well, a synopsis of Saturday’s game provides a glimpse.
Linus shines
Linus Ullmark made 23 saves en route to his third shutout of the season, and is tied with Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in wins (14) since returning to the team January 31 after his personal leave of absence.
Through that date, the Senators goaltending was among the league’s worst statistically. The team’s 3.32 goals against per game ranked 26th in the NHL, this despite allowing only 24 shots on goal on average.
Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen were performing below their norms. Then on December 28 after being pulled from the game the evening prior in Toronto. Ullmark took a personal leave of absence. His story has been well-documented, culminating in an open and honest interview a week ago when the Ottawa Chapter of the PHWA bestowed a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nomination for the 32-year-old.
Fast forward to April 11, Ullmark’s play has been one of the key reasons for the Senators’ second half success. The club has posted a 17-6-3 since his January 31 return to the crease. The club has also seen their goals against decrease 10% per game to move up 13 spots in league rankings to 13th.
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Senators Special Teams are exactly that
Currently eighth, Ottawa’s power play has ranked among the league’s top 10 all season. And since the return of their PP quarterback Jake Sanderson from injury, the unit is responsible for six goals in 13 attempts. It was Sanderson who darted to the net, depositing a rebound of Dylan Cozens’ shot, giving his club a 2-0 third period lead on a two-man advantage.
But it’s been the Senators penalty kill which may be one of, if the not the biggest reason for Ottawa’s rebirth.
Nolan Baumgartner who handles Senators blueliners also was the primary coach for the team’s PK. On January 24, Senators head coach Travis Green made the decision the unit needed a reset. Green made a strategic change handing the reins over to another assistant, Mike Yeo. The Senators PK was the league’s second-worst, mired at 71.7%.
Yeo a former NHL head coach with the Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues granted made subtle additions. Yeo developed a more aggressive style, keeping opposing defenseman on the heels. Foward Michael Amadio took a more regular turn with the group.
Green’s move worked. And it showed versus the Islanders. Not only did the Senators kill all five Isles man-advantages, the team gave up only two shots on goal, while scoring a shorthanded marker themselves.
Ridly Greig notched Ottawa’s eighth shortie this season driving to the net after taking a pass from Amadio to open the scoring in the first period.
With Yeo running the Senators PK, the unit is the NHL’s sixth best (83.1%) since taking over.
Greig noted the PK change has been subtle, “Honestly, not much. You know, our systems are pretty similar, maybe a touch more aggressive. I’d say our stands have always been great. Yeah, I wouldn’t say too much.”
The main reason could very well be getting more saves than they were earlier in the campaign.
Checking Line, Best Line?
On many nights, the Senators best line is a checking trio of Nick Cousins/Shane Pinto/Michael Amadio. The three forwards give opposing team’s top players fits.
Per Daily Faceoff Fantasy Hockey editor Brock Seguin, no forwards have played tougher minutes head-to-head with NHL’s elite than Pinto and Amadio.
Per Sportlogic data analyst Mike Kelly; only Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov has won more puck battles than Amadio this season.
Amadio who’s amassed personal highs in assists (20), points (34) salted the game away tallying an empty-netter. Amadio displayed his aggresive forechecking skill, lifting the stick of Isles Mathew Barzal in a race to the puck, steering the puck into the net.
Amadio said of the line’s success postgame, “I think it’s just our reads. I think our stand, we’ve been good at all year, but I think just our reads in our zone, making sure we’re pressuring the puck all over the zone.”
There’s little doubt Amadio and Pinto will draw several Selke Trophy votes.
Tkachuk leaves game
It was a great day for the Senators, but there remains some concern for their captain. Brady Tkachuk appeared to be injured in an innocuous collision, leaving the ice off-balance. He attempted to play a couple of more shifts, but left the game after a 13-second twirl in the third period.
Green said “He (Tkachuk) wasn’t feeling well.” With the Senators final two games being no longer meaningful, there’s a chance Tkachuk may receive the week ahead off.
The Senators play the second game of their back-to-back Sunday in Newark versus the Devils.
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