Senators' goaltending turnaround boosts playoff chances

The Ottawa Senators have made significant strides towards securing a Stanley Cup playoff spot, largely thanks to a resurgence in their goaltending. Currently, they are in the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, just one point behind the New York Islanders, having recently posted a record of 7-2-1 in their last ten games.

The Senators experienced a notable turnaround with No. 1 goalie Linus Ullmark, who, after returning from a leave of absence for mental health reasons, has improved his performance to a .905 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average in his last 14 games, posting a record of 9-2-3.

Ullmark's earlier struggles had seen him with an .884 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average before his leave. The Sens also brought in veteran goalie James Reimer, who has gone 5-1-0 in his past six games, contributing a solid 2.32 goals-against average despite his season save percentage being .884.

The Senators’ defensive lineup is currently affected by the injury to Thomas Chabot, but call-ups Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan have managed to hold their ground. As the Senators approach the final stretch of the season, consistent netminding from Ullmark and Reimer will be crucial as they aim to build on their performance from last season and contend for a playoff round or two.

If they collapse in the final games, the scrutiny on the team, including the goalies, is expected to intensify. This goaltending resurgence is vital for their playoff aspirations, as highlighted by The Hockey News.