Linus Ullmark stifles Devils in return as Senators roll
Dylan Cozens scored his 100th career goal and Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in his first action in more than a month as the Ottawa Senators defeated the visiting New Jersey Devils, 4-1, on Saturday.
Cozens tallied his team-leading 10th power-play goal 37 seconds into the third period after Jonas Siegenthaler was called for hooking.
Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, Tim Stutzle scored his team-leading 25th goal and Shane Pinto added an empty-netter as Ottawa closed a four-game homestand with its third straight win.
The Senators outscored the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche and Devils 16-4 in those three contests.
Tkachuk opened the scoring in the first for Ottawa, before adding two assists in the third. He finished with eight goals and 10 assists in January.
Ullmark last played on Dec. 27 against the Toronto Maple Leafs before taking a personal leave of absence from the team.
The 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner while with the Boston Bruins came into Saturday's contest 14-8-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average this season.
Ullmark rejoined the team six days ago, returning as the backup goaltender behind minor league goalie Mads Sogaard and then 37-year-old journeyman James Reimer before getting the nod Saturday.
Ullmark stopped Nico Hischier on the doorstep with 8:09 to play in the second period with the game tied at 1, and corralled Dougie Hamilton's slapshot just over five minutes later.
Hamilton's 10-game consecutive point streak, the longest for a defenseman this season, came to an end.
Timo Meier scored his 14th goal of the season for New Jersey in the first period, while goaltender Jake Allen made 30 saves. It was just the second loss in the last six road contests for the Devils.
Conor Brown's equalizer with 3:56 to play was waved off. The Devils went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Ottawa was 2-for-3.
Stutzle had a goal and an assist for the Senators, while Jake Sanderson added two assists.