Linus Ullmark makes 31 saves in the Senators' 2-1 victory over the Lightning

Linus Ullmark makes 31 saves in the Senators’ 2-1 victory over the Lightning

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Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson, centre-right, celebrates his goal with teammates during second period NHL hockey action against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Nick Perbix (48) dives as he battles for the puck with Ottawa Senators left wing Fabian Zetterlund (20) during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) watches the puck enter his net on a goal by Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson, not seen, during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Senators centre Shane Pinto (12) celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during first period NHL hockey action against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) moves in on Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during first period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli (71) reaches for the puck as Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) covers it during first period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Tampa Bay Lightning centre Brayden Point (21) is stopped by Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during first period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) looks to shoot as Ottawa Senators defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo (33) falls to the ice during third period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 31 saves, Shane Pinto and Jake Sanderson scored and the Ottawa Senators beat Tampa Bay 2-1 on Thursday night, with the Lightning failing to wrap up a playoff spot.

Pinto opened the scoring for the Senators with 6:15 left in the first period, and Sanderson made it 2-0 on a power play at 5:17 of the second. Brandon Hagel got one back for Tampa Bay at seven minutes of the second with his 34th of the season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 17 shots for Tampa Bay, playing the second game of a four-game trip. The Lightning had won four in a row. They could have clinched a playoff berth with either a victory or an overtime loss after Colorado beat Columbus later Thursday.

Ottawa holds the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Takeaways

Lightning: Tampa Bay generated a number of chances on the power play, but was unable to capitalize.

Senators: Ottawa struggled defensively at times and relied heavily on Ullmark.

Key moment

With Ottawa up 2-1, Ullmark made a huge save on Jake Guentzel with 23 seconds remaining in the second period.

Up next

The Lightning are at Buffalo on Saturday night. The Senators host Florida on Saturday and Columbus on Sunday night.

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This story has been updated to correct that Tampa Bay has not clinched a playoff spot.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl