The Ottawa Senators secured a Stanley Cup playoff spot after a shutout road victory against the New York Islanders. Goaltender Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for his third clean sheet of the season. The clinch came with help from New Jersey's win over Detroit later that night.
Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders on the road, with Linus Ullmark anchoring the defense by stopping all 23 shots he faced. The victory locked in Ottawa's first-round playoff berth, bolstered by New Jersey's subsequent triumph over Detroit Red Wings. Ottawa's defense shone, going perfect on the penalty kill and limiting the Islanders to just three power-play shots on goal. The team's recent winning streak has rested on this solid backline play. Captain Brady Tkachuk left the game early in the third period, as he was not feeling well, according to coach Travis Green. Green said simply, 'He just didn't feel good.' Ullmark praised his teammates' efforts in front of him. 'The way the guys battled for me, making sure they didn't get prolonged attacks in our zone, says a lot,' Ullmark said, per NHL.com. 'They did a great job with entries and everything. When we needed to clear the puck, we did it.' For the Islanders, the loss marked their fifth defeat in six games under new coach Peter DeBoer, who had won his debut but now sees his team still chasing a playoff position entering the final stretch.