It isn't only tariffs that have Ottawa and Washington throwing down. What started as an innocent-looking play nearly turned into a goalie fight between Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators and Charlie Lindgren of the Washington Capitals.
At a stoppage in play, Washington defenseman Martin Fehrvary and Ottawa forward Ridly Greig started to tussle at the net front. Lindgren, weary of Ottawa players crashing his net, decided to get involved.
That brought Ullmark storming down the ice from his goal crease. En route, he dropped his stick and doffed his gloves, diving into the pile as he arrived, seeking to get at Lindgren.
“Well, what can I say?" Ullmark said after the game. "I love Charlie, I think he’s a heck of a goaltender. Obviously, he’s very fired up, ever since I think it was the second goal that was allowed as well. So he shows a lot of emotions.
“So when he goes in there and sticks up for his guys, I could have stood waiting as well. But as soon as it kind of kept going, it’s not really about the actual fight. It’s more about showing up for the guys and showing your presence.
"It’s not like I’m looking for it. I don’t want to instigate or anything like that in my game or anything. It’s just what the situation was devolving to.”
While he's never fought another NHL goalie, Ullmark did get into a verbal spat on social media last season with fellow netminder Ilya Samsonov. The two exchanged verbal barbs of the 2024 playoff series in which Ullmark's Boston Bruins eliminated Samsonov's Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ullmark pointed out that the Leafs had fared much better in the series when Samsonov's backup Joseph Woll was between the pipes. Samsonov countered by noting that Ullmark was only ranked No. 10 among goalies in an HL poll.