Senators Edge Predators 3-2 as Ullmark Delivers Again, DarkHorse Cashes

The Senators squeaked out a 3-2 win over Nashville on Tuesday night, and wouldn't you know it—Linus Ullmark was the difference maker once again. DarkHorse pegged Ottawa at -160 based almost entirely on the goaltending chasm between Ullmark and Juuse Saros, and that read proved money. Ullmark wasn't quite as otherworldly as his .956 early-season clip suggested he'd be, but he was plenty good enough when it mattered, turning aside key chances down the stretch to preserve the one-goal margin.

Nashville hung around all night—credit to them for that—but couldn't solve Ullmark often enough to flip the script. Saros, meanwhile, was serviceable but not spectacular, which is exactly what we expected given his pedestrian .916 save percentage coming in. The Senators didn't blow the doors off offensively, but they didn't need to. Three goals against a Predators squad that's been shaky on the road (now 1-2 away from Bridgestone) was enough.

This one hit because the handicap was sound: when you've got an elite netminder at home against a merely competent one, you ride that edge. Ullmark keeps rolling, Ottawa improves to 4-1, and DarkHorse collects another winner. Sometimes it really is that simple.