The Ottawa Senators’ first 10 minutes in Utah were far from ideal. The Utahns controlled the run of play at five-on-five and the Senators needed to weather the storm with their backup goaltender Anton Forsberg in net. Considering the news of the day, it could have spelled disaster. It probably should have. It didn’t.
Forsberg made key saves in the opening few minutes to keep his team in it. The Senators needed more than half of the first period to record a second shot on goal. It came from Drake Batherson, who scored the game’s first goal and kicked off their four-goal outburst.
Before the buzzer sounded to end the period, Utah fans booed their players off the ice.
“I thought the first period was almost a tale of two periods,” Senators head coach Travis Green said. “Took us probably 10 minutes to get our legs under us, to catch up to the speed of the game. (Utah) has a very fast team. I felt like we were on our heels a little bit early and (Forsberg) kept us in it.”
Forsberg was left to carry the Senators the rest of the game with Utah pressing, trying to salvage a lost period. The Swedish netminder shut the door. In a game in which the Senators scored four goals, and at a time when many fans were already worried about their team’s goaltending, Forsberg was their best player.
“They came out hard obviously,” Forsberg said after making 31 saves in the 4-0 victory Tuesday night. “They got a few chances there from the start. Sometimes when it goes your way, it’s a lot easier because you’re not thinking much.”
Anton Forsberg gets the sixth @pepsi shutout of his career after a perfect performance in Utah! 👏 pic.twitter.com/yeT1FtWrT7
— NHL (@NHL) October 23, 2024
“We’re not surprised,” Senators forward Claude Giroux said. “He’s a great goaltender. He battles. We love playing in front of him. Tonight was an excellent game for him.”
It’s a funny quote considering how surprising Forsberg’s start was.
No. 1 goalie Linus Ullmark hasn’t played since Oct. 12 against the Montreal Canadiens due to a strain. Green had said Ullmark was a possibility for them ahead of their three-game road trip through Utah, Vegas and Colorado, but Ullmark wasn’t ready to play as of Tuesday morning.
And if seeing Forsberg in the starter’s net at morning skate wasn’t indicative enough that Ullmark wouldn’t play, the Senators also recalled Leevi Merilainen from their American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville with goaltender Mads Sogaard also currently injured.
“We’re going to hold Linus out for another game,” Green said before the game Tuesday. “Just err on the side of caution.”
The Senators shouldn’t be faulted for letting their No. 1 goaltender rest and heal from whatever injury is ailing him, but any disconcerting feeling about their goaltending is validated considering how snakebitten they’ve been at the position in recent seasons. Their current situation, which has the Sens tapping further down their depth chart for an NHL backup, could be added to the list of goalie woes.
With Ullmark out, Ottawa would have to trust Forsberg with a fourth consecutive start. He was pulled against the Los Angeles Kings last week after allowing three goals on nine shots before Sogaard won the game in relief. Forsberg then allowed three goals in a loss against the New Jersey Devils. Forsberg received praise from Green after the team’s recent 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he still allowed four goals, including a fluky one from Jake Guentzel that had Green shaking his head on the bench.
There was pressure on Forsberg to deliver a quality start on Tuesday and he did just that.
| Player | Saves | 5-on-5 SVs | GSAx | HDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Anton Forsberg |
31/31
|
26/26
|
3.51
|
7/7
|
“He was great. He was phenomenal tonight,” Green said. “I’m really happy for (Forsberg) to give us a game like that.”
“It’s one of those road wins that are super nice to get,” Forsberg said.
Tuesday’s win was Forsberg’s first shutout since March. But consistency is still required for the 31-year-old pending unrestricted free agent, especially once Ullmark returns and the Senators lean on him again. That pressure will return for Forsberg in time for his next start as he remains Ullmark’s battery mate. Entering his fifth season with the Senators, Forsberg has only had one season in which his goals-against average was below three goals.
Ullmark will get more rest between now and Friday evening when the Senators play the Vegas Golden Knights. If Ullmark can’t play Friday, that will mark five consecutive games missed and alarm bells will rightfully ring.
Tuesday was a reminder of how delicate the Senators’ goaltending situation is with injuries up and down their depth chart. But while Ullmark’s health and performance are essential to Ottawa’s success, he needs a No. 2 goaltender who can elevate their play. Forsberg’s win over the Utah Hockey Club is a sign that he can.
(Photo of Anton Forsberg: Tyler Tate / Getty Images)
