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Linus Ullmark is tuning out the noise.
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The Ottawa Senators’ top goaltender is well aware he has his critics after what has been a difficult start to the season.
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As the Senators and the 32-year-old Ullmark return to his old home at the TD Garden on Thursday night to start a two-game road trip, he literally swore to reporters on Wednesday that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks.
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Making $8.25 million US on a four-year contract extension that kicked in this season, Ullmark has posted a 5-4-2 record in 11 starts with a 3.41 goals-against average and a .861 save percentage.
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Ulmark is ranked 65th in the league in save percentage and No. 58 in GAA.
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Those numbers aren’t good enough, and they can’t continue if Ottawa is going to battle for a playoff spot. Ullmark knows it, but he’s focused on doing his job and not listening to the naysayers.
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What’s it been like going through that pressure?
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“I can’t say it here,” Ullmark said after the club’s skate at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday. “There are so many things I’d like to say to all the people, all the doubters, all the so-called ‘experts’, that I can’t say to the media.
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Cares about what his teammates think
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“It is what it is. Everybody has a right to their own opinion, but the only opinions that matter are the people around me that I do care about and my coaches. What everybody else says, they’re entitled to say whatever they want because I don’t give two s—s about it.”
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Of course, then Ullmark stopped himself after realizing he swore.
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“Can I say that? Two craps about it. Two poops,” he added with a smile.
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Of course, Ullmark has the right to say whatever he wants, and he shouldn’t care what anybody thinks other than those he goes to battle with every night.
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But even he knows he has to be better. Ullmark was brought here to help get this group to the next level, and his play down the stretch last season was exactly what the Senators needed to make the playoffs.
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Ullmark has a good relationship with goalie coach Justin Peters and they spend a lot of time breaking down the game, while also determining what they can do to have more success.
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An observer noted they had a lengthy chat near centre ice after the club’s 35-minute skate. Peters is a pretty low-key person. If you spend any time with him, you’re automatically going to like him because he’s a good person to speak with, a calm approach, and, of course, a sense of humor.
