Ottawa Senators' Rollercoaster Win Serves As Big Wake-Up Call For ...
Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
In the rollercoaster matinee matchup between the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings on Monday, the Sens' X account might have said it best.
"Let's never do that again," the account said in a reply to the Kings following an 8-7 overtime win for the Senators.
Although the Senators expect to be an improved team than the one that finished second-last in the Atlantic Division last season, they got a cold reminder of what was one of their biggest problems last year – their goaltending.
With new Sens No. 1 netminder Linus Ullmark injured and out of the lineup, Ottawa turned to backup Anton Forsberg for his first action of the season. And Forsberg did not deliver positive results, surrendering three goals on nine shots and getting pulled at the 6:15 mark of the second period.
Third-string Sens goaltender Mads Sogaard wasn’t much better, allowing four goals on 17 shots.
The Senators found a way to keep clawing back against the Kings, never trailing by more than two goals, tying the match at 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 and even taking a 7-6 lead before Los Angeles scored the equalizer. Josh Norris played hero with his second goal of the game to finish it off in overtime.
For what it's worth, Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper wasn't particularly impressive in his third start of the season after a strong first two games. But Ottawa's subpar netminding stood out like a sore thumb – and some Senators fans are rightly concerned about the caliber of goaltending they’re going to get behind Ullmark.
It’s not time just yet to throw Forsberg and Sogaard under the bus. Still, in a division where the difference between making and missing the Stanley Cup playoffs could be one or two points, it’s worrisome for Senators brass to think they could get more subpar goaltending without Ullmark in net. If that becomes a bigger problem, Senators GM Steve Staios will have to consider every option to improve the No. 2 goalie position, even if it means taking a chance on another unproven netminder just for a change of scenery.
For instance, would the San Jose Sharks part ways with veteran Vitek Vanecek, given that (a) Vanecek had a solid first game this season, stopping 28 of 29 shots against Anaheim on Saturday, and (b) the Sharks have capable prospect Yaroslav Askarov already thriving in the AHL this season?
So long as the Sens are willing to pay a draft pick or prospect and Forsberg’s salary in return for Vanecek, the move would fit under both teams’ salary cap ceilings – just barely, in Ottawa’s case. Vanecek has a $3.4-million cap hit, while Forsberg has a $2.75-million cap hit, with Vanecek and Forsberg becoming UFAs at season’s end.
Vanecek's stats last season and in his career have been similar to Forsberg's, but the former's 2.45 GAA and .911 SP in 52 games in 2022-23 is enticing if he can rediscover that form. If Vanecek plays as he did in his first game more consistently this season and Forsberg doesn't improve, that move would be worth making. But if Vanecek doesn't bounce back from an .890 save percentage last season on the Devils, he won't be Ottawa's solution.
Related: New Contracts For Senators' Ullmark, Kraken's Daccord Show Fickle Nature Of NHL Goalie Business
Regardless of whether Ottawa acquires another netminder or not, the Senators should be counting their lucky stars they acquired Ullmark this summer and signed him to a lengthy contract extension last week. The alternative – running it back with Forsberg and former Senators starter Joonas Korpisalo this season – could’ve been a recipe for disappointment. Even at the backup goalie spot, though, Staios will likely have to watch for better options by or before the NHL’s trade deadline unless Forsberg or Sogaard improve their play in a hurry.
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