The Ottawa Senators’ 4–1 defeat of the Latest Jersey Devils served because the canvas for Linus Ullmark’s return, a performance textured by sharp goaltending and unmistakable sentiment. Playing his first game in 35 days after stepping away from the team on Dec. 28 for private reasons, Ullmark stopped 26 of 27 shots to consolidate the victory.
The win prolonged Ottawa’s winning streak to a few games, each achieved with a special starting goaltender. Through the streak, the Senators have outscored opponents 16–4 and improved their record to 26-21-7 with three games remaining before the Olympic break.
Ullmark received a pregame video tribute and a standing ovation from the house crowd, which continued to cheer him throughout the night. He finished the sport with a .963 save percentage, his second-best showing this 12 months. He made several crucial stops, including high-danger saves on Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton, and settled in early after denying Connor Brown and Cody Glass within the opening minutes. After the ultimate win, his teammates skated over to embrace him one after the other.
All love for Linus Ullmark has he picks up the win in his return 🥲❤️ pic.twitter.com/ezkaaO6qQn
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 1, 2026
Ottawa opened the scoring at 13:38 of the primary period on the facility play. Drake Batherson found Brady Tkachuk within the left circle, and the captain beat Jake Allen cleanly for his 14th goal of the season. Latest Jersey responded late within the period when Timo Meier scored his 14th of the 12 months at 18:16, converting a pass from behind the online to tie the sport 1–1 after one.
The rating remained even through a scoreless second period before the Senators took control early within the third. Dylan Cozens scored a power-play goal just 37 seconds into the frame, muscling past Brett Pesce to bury a rebound. Moreover, the goal was Cozens’ 18th of the season and the a centesimal of his NHL profession.
After the Devils had a possible tying goal by Brown disallowed for a hand pass during an influence play, Tim Stutzle provided insurance at 17:53 of the third, lifting a puck past Allen for his twenty fifth goal, surpassing his total from last season. At 18:41, Shane Pinto consummated the end result with an empty-net strike, his fifteenth goal of the season.
Tkachuk finished with a goal and two assists, giving him seven points over the three-game winning streak. Stutzle recorded a goal and an assist, while Jake Sanderson added two assists, logged over 26 minutes of ice time, blocked three shots, and played greater than seven minutes shorthanded. Sanderson now has 44 points, tied for seventh amongst NHL defensemen.
Ottawa went an ideal 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and outshot Latest Jersey 34–27. Allen made 30 saves within the loss, while the Devils, who were without Jack Hughes as a consequence of a lower-body injury, fell to 28-25-2 and have lost three of their last 4 games.
The Senators begin an eight-game road-heavy stretch next, starting Monday night in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.