linus ullmark is back in the spotlight as the Ottawa Senators open their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon ET. Ottawa is expected to start Ullmark, while Carolina’s goaltending choice remains unsettled between Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussi. The matchup matters because both teams have clear paths to exploit in goal, and the side that gets to those weaknesses most often may have the upper hand.
Why linus ullmark matters in Game 1
Ullmark enters the series after a difficult season and plenty of criticism in Ottawa, but he still carries the kind of résumé that can swing a playoff round. He owns a. 902 save percentage since the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics and was a huge reason the Senators reached the postseason. He is also the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, which remains part of the case for Ottawa believing he can anchor a deep run.
The matchup data points to specific stress areas. In a sample of 100 goals against tracked late in the regular season, 15 of Ullmark’s goals allowed came off rebounds, above the project average. Another 21 came on broken plays and bounces, also above average, which reinforces how important chaos around the crease can be against him.
What Carolina can try against linus ullmark
The Hurricanes’ best chance may be to force Ullmark out of his comfort zone by putting bodies in front and making sightlines messy. Screen shots were a factor on 20 percent of the goals Ullmark allowed in the tracked sample, above the average. That suggests traffic and second looks could be central to Carolina’s plan.
Odd-man rushes also offer a lane. Ullmark was near perfect when puck carriers held and shot on those chances this season, but he was closer to league average after a pass was completed. In other words, east-west movement could matter more than straight-line entries if Carolina can create them cleanly.
Immediate reactions around the series
Ottawa’s belief in Ullmark is tied to the bigger work done by team president Steve Staios, who said, “My job is to set this group up, set the culture up, to make the best decisions possible, to set ourselves up. ” He also said, “I’ll never make a decision to win a headline. ” Those comments frame how the Senators have approached this postseason push: steady, patient, and built for the long view.
Staios also said he brought in veteran players to help the group develop resilience, while the Senators’ room has been described by Jake Sanderson and Fabian Zetterlund as “25 best friends” playing together. That backdrop matters because linus ullmark is part of a team that believes its structure and togetherness can hold up under playoff pressure.
The Carolina question still hanging over Game 1
Carolina’s goaltending decision could shape the first-round tone. The club may stick with Andersen, or it could turn to Bussi, and it is also possible both appear in the best-of-7 series. The uncertainty adds another layer to a matchup already defined by contrasting styles in net.
For Ottawa, the equation is simpler: linus ullmark has to give them stable goaltending while the rest of the roster pushes the pace and looks for repeated chances around the crease. If he does, the Senators can build on the season they finished with and keep the series from turning on Carolina’s preferred terms. If not, the Hurricanes have the kind of pressure game that can quickly expose a goalie’s weak spots, and linus ullmark will be the center of that test.
