Senators pay for Ullmark decision as Travis Green explains costly loss to Lightning
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Cimon Asselin
Mar 28, 2026 (5:24 PM)
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Photo credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
Linus Ullmark sat as Travis Green turned to James Reimer, and the Ottawa Senators paid for it in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
Green didn't dodge it after puck drop. He made the call, and he owned it.
“I want to play Linus every night,” he said. But the goalie wasn't available, and the bench boss went another way in one of the biggest games left.
That decision now sits front and center.
Ottawa had a chance to tighten the race. Instead, they stayed stuck at 86 points through 73 games, losing ground in the Atlantic picture.
Tampa Bay didn't waste the opening.
They got their push in the third period and closed it out, improving to 96 points and showing the gap when execution slips even slightly.
Reimer wasn't the only issue. But the timing made it unavoidable.
Ottawa generated 28 shots, yet the finish wasn't there when the game tightened.
Coach draws a hard line postgame
Green kept the message direct in the room.
No panic. No excuses. Just accountability across the bench.
The Senators' power play came up empty at 0%, and that's where games like this flip. Special teams didn't hold.
That's where Ullmark's absence gets amplified.
When your starter sits, the margin shrinks. Every mistake feels heavier, every missed chance lingers longer.
Green didn't hint at second thoughts. He leaned into the decision.
That matters inside a locker room fighting for position. Players read hesitation fast. There was none here.
But the standings don't care about tone.
Ottawa now trails in a packed Wild Card race, and the cushion is gone with games slipping away late in March.
The next move is obvious.
Ullmark likely returns, and the leash tightens across the lineup. Ice time, matchups, and special teams will get sharper.
Because this wasn't just another loss.
It was a moment where a coaching call, a resting starter, and a missed opportunity all collided at once.
And now the Senators have no room left to ease into anything.
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