The Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, marking the return from the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off break. Unfortunately for Ottawa, they extended their losing streak to four games with a significant 5-2 defeat to their arch-rivals. The Senators struggled without their captain Brady Tkachuk, who was sidelined with an injury. Meanwhile, the Canadiens snapped their own three-game skid, leaving both teams desperate for momentum.
The Canadiens opened strong, quickly establishing a commanding presence with two early goals within the first five minutes. Brendan Gallagher started the scoring at 2:28, pouncing on a failed pass by Drake Batherson. Cole Caufield added to the lead, converting a rebound only moments later at 4:28. But the Senators, desperate to rebound, seized the moment and rallied back.
Tim Stutzle showed his prowess, picking up the pace with his skill and determination. He scored at 15:54, briefly tying the game at 2-2 after Jake Sanderson's earlier power-play goal. Just 19 seconds later though, Patrik Laine capitalized on the Canadiens' power play, snatching the lead back at 3-2. This sequence of the game highlighted the precarious balance of momentum, flipping almost instantly, leaving the Senators reeling.
Goaltending proved to be pivotal. Linus Ullmark struggled immensely, allowing five goals on just 15 shots, which prompted head coach Travis Green to pull him midway through the second period. This marked the first time Ullmark was pulled since November 2022—a telling sign of his dismal performance. Ullmark’s woes were palpable as he failed to make timely saves, leading to increased scrutiny over his consistency since returning from injury.
Meanwhile, Sam Montembeault of the Canadiens turned aside 25 shots, registering his 19th win of the season and helping to stabilize his team's performance. This was particularly noteworthy, especially considering Montembeault had recently experienced his own struggles. The Canadiens needed this collective push from their roster, and they delivered with notable contributions from 11 different players, all registering at least one point.
Zipping through the game, the pace continued as fans rallied behind each team's efforts. The Senators fought back through defiance, but their attempts were often thwarted by Montreal's superior play and strategic efforts. With the return of players from the 4 Nations tournament, both teams were dealing with variations in lineup strengths, yet the Canadiens emerged invigorated. They capitalized effectively on power-play opportunities, underscoring the importance of discipline on the ice.
After the second period concluded, the Senators were left questioning their defensive setups and the continuity of their offensive strategies, especially without key players like Tkachuk, Josh Norris, and Shane Pinto. During this losing streak, they had allowed five goals or more consistently, proving to be detrimental to their playoff aspirations.
A key moment came just after Stutzle's goal, as Ottawa's Cole Reinhardt received a holding penalty, which allowed Laine to put the Canadiens back on top, changing the game's complexion yet again. This series of events exemplified the Senators' inability to encapsulate moments of hope and instead highlighted their downward spiral.
With this defeat, Ottawa caused concern over their goaltending efficiency, particularly seeing Ullmark yielding such high goals against. If they are to remain competitive, performance improvements between the pipes are non-negotiable. Without Tkachuk's on-ice influence, other squad members must fill the void and step up substantively.
Following the game, the Senators must now contend with the looming NHL trade deadline on March 7. The stakes are high with only 25 games left on their schedule. Decisions lie with Steve Staios, the club president, about whether to make additions or adjustments. Some players must step up, finding ways to climb out of this pit of losses.
On the other hand, the Canadiens will look to build upon this victory as they prepare to face the Carolina Hurricanes next. They desperately needed the win to raise spirits and confidence heading down the stretch of the season.
The Senators will need to hone their focus as they prepare to host the Winnipeg Jets next Wednesday, emphasizing the necessity of recovering from these losses and correcting course as they eye their playoff aspirations.