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Penguins face familiar frustration as Senators return to Pittsburgh with one twist
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Linus Ullmark is back, and the Ottawa Senators visit the Pittsburgh Penguins with old scars and shaky goaltending on the line.
This is Pittsburgh’s last home game before the Olympic break pause, so the building should feel like a deadline night.
The Penguins come in 28-14-11 and riding a six-game winning streak.
Ottawa is 26-21-7, and it has flat-out torched the Pens lately.
Since the start of 2022-23, the Senators are 8-1-1 against Pittsburgh, including a 4-0 win on December 18, 2025.
That’s why this matchup feels personal, even if the standings say "two good teams."
The obvious target is Ottawa’s crease, where the numbers have been brutal most of the year.
The Senators’ team save percentage sits at .873 with a 3.28 goals-against average, and that is not playoff-level.
Linus Ullmark swings the Ottawa Senators game
Pens fans are excited, but nobody is relaxed, because Ottawa has owned this matchup for three straight seasons.
Ullmark has started to steady it, with a 2.89 GAA and .884 save percentage in 2025-26.
Saturday was his first game back after a month-long personal leave, and he stopped 26 of 27 shots.
He looked sharp in that return game versus New Jersey, swallowing rebounds and stealing a few "should-be" goals.
Ottawa has won three straight by a 16-4 combined score, so the goaltending has been better over the last three games.
For Pittsburgh, the recipe is simple: win the first 10 minutes, get pucks to the blue paint, and make Ullmark or James Reimer fight for sightlines.
Sidney Crosby leads the way with 27-31-58, and a hot start tonight can send the break into the room on a high.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Mike Sullivan discusses seeing the Penguins have success after being replaced by Dan Muse
Mike Sullivan discusses seeing the Penguins have success after being replaced by Dan Muse
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 2|84 ANSWERS Penguins face familiar frustration as Senators return to Pittsburgh with one twist Should the Pittsburgh Penguins treat the Senators goaltending like the main problem tonight? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 56 % |
| No | 37 | 44 % |
| List of polls | ||