Ullmark makes 23 saves, Senators shut out Ducks

OTTAWA -- Linus Ullmark made 23 saves, including 11 in the third period, for the Ottawa Senators in a 2-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday.

It was Ullmark’s second shutout of the season, and his first since Dec. 18. He is 10-1-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage in his past 15 starts.

“It’s not just a one-man show; I can’t play this game alone,” Ullmark said. “It’s nice to feel that they trust you and that you are the guy for the job, and in time when you need your goaltending or key performance, you can then give them that.”

Thomas Chabot scored short-handed, and Shane Pinto had two assists for the Senators (33-23-9), who are 6-1-2 in their past nine and conclude a three-game homestand against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

“Lots to like,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said. “Obviously played 60-minutes, played to our identity. I thought the second period (we) could have easily had three or four more goals.

“It was a good game. Linus played great.”

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Ville Husso made 27 saves for the Ducks (36-27-3), who have lost two of three on a four-game road trip (1-2-0) that ends at the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

“I think we ran into a strong goalie tonight,” Anaheim forward Beckett Sennecke said. “They were pretty tough in front of their net, clearing us out, and I think that just sums it up.”

Michael Amadio gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 3:54 of the second period. Pinto collected a bouncing puck in the neutral zone and passed to Amadio on a 2-on-1 rush, and Amadio shot it past Husso’s glove from the right face-off circle.

Chabot made it 2-0 with a short-handed goal at 9:21. After deflecting a pass from Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe at the blue line, Pinto carried the puck on a 3-on-2 and fed Chabot in the high slot, where the latter sent a wrist shot past Husso.

“We started a little slow, but then we picked up, and I thought we took over the game,” Chabot said. “We established our game plan, and we played behind them, forced them to defend, and we didn’t give them a whole lot again. … Nice to see (Ullmark) step up and make some big saves at key times as well.”

Anaheim challenged Chabot’s goal for goalie interference, but video review supported the referee’s call that Ottawa forward Tim Stutzle made incidental contact with Husso and that it did not affect the goalie’s ability to play his position prior to Chabot’s goal.

“I don’t know, I’m just a goalie trying to do my part, but of course there are some rules that has to be followed,” Husso said. “And I don’t think we lose for that goal. It’s not a great feeling to lose, but we have a good opportunity tomorrow night.”

The Ducks were limited to 12 shots on goal through the first two periods.

“I thought we had a decent first (period), not very good, we’re lucky to come out of it alive at zeros,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “And then the second period, they took over the game.”

Stutzle thought he extended his point streak to 15 games at 14:07 of the third period, putting the puck behind Husso on the backhand during a power play, but he fell and knocked over Husso while driving to the net, resulting in goalie interference.

Stutzle had 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) during the 14-game point streak.

“I thought Timmy’s goal at the end would have been a good goal,” Chabot said. “But (it was a) tight game, I guess, and another chance for him (Sunday) to get another streak going here.”

With the victory, Ullmark became the first Senators goalie to record 20 or more wins in each of his first two seasons with them. He was acquired by Ottawa in a trade with the Boston Bruins on June 26, 2024.

“We played a good game,” Ullmark said. “Coming into this one as well, having a back-to-back, two early games, we knew that we had to be ready from the start and try to bring a playoff mentality, and I think the guys did a great job of doing it from start to finish.”

NOTES: John Carlson (lower body) did not make his Ducks debut; the defenseman could potentially play Sunday after being acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on March 5. … Chabot was plus-2, blocked four shots and led all skaters in ice time (27:24).