The Montreal Canadiens pulled out a convincing 5-2 victory over their Atlantic Division rivals, the Ottawa Senators, Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, marking their first game back following the NHL's two-week break for the Four Nations tournament. This victory proved pivotal for the Canadiens as they push for playoff contention.
Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring just two minutes and 28 seconds after the puck drop. With the help of Josh Anderson, Gallagher capitalized on some defensive miscues from Ottawa, leaving him with ample space to find the net for his 15th goal of the season.
Shortly after Gallagher's goal, Cole Caufield doubled the Canadiens' lead to 2-0, taking advantage of yet another lapse from the Ottawa defense. While the Senators initially appeared to be off their game, they responded quickly with defensive grit.
The response came just moments later as Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson scored on the power play, narrowing the gap to 2-1. This was soon followed by Tim Stutzle's talented end-to-end effort, which leveled the score at 2-2, showcasing his remarkable skill at creating offensive opportunities.
“Rusty. Not very good with the puck. It wasn’t a very pretty game,” Senators coach Travis Green remarked, summarizing his team's performance as they struggled to find their rhythm against the Canadiens.
Before the first period ended, Patrik Laine restored Montreal's lead to 3-2 with his power-play goal, assisted by Lane Hutson. The Canadiens continued their momentum through the second period, where Gallagher and Anderson created chances, leading to another goal from Anderson to push the tally to 4-2.
Following the Canadiens' fourth goal, Juraj Slafkovsky added his name to the scoresheet, netting the final goal of the game to secure their 5-2 victory. Slafkovsky was particularly impressive, combining physicality with skilled offensive play. His performance delighted fans and showcased his growth as he explained, "I’m ready to fight. Literally," after the game, signaling his readiness to contribute both offensively and physically.
The Canadiens' offense was not the only bright spot; goaltender Samuel Montembeault also played a significant role. He managed to stop 25 of the 27 shots he faced, displaying calm under pressure, especially during the Senators' late-game push. His playoff ambitions are bolstered by this performance, which showed improvement as the team needed reliable goaltending after recent struggles.
“We’ve got to practice hard, bounce back, and get back to the way we want to play,” said Stutzle after the game, emphasizing the need for his team to build consistency and regroup quickly, especially with upcoming key games on the horizon.
Continuing the playoff chase, the Canadiens find themselves within just five points of the Senators, highlighting the importance of every game. With only 25 games left, both teams must stay focused—Montreal needing to maintain momentum, and Ottawa facing the urgent task of rediscovering their competitive edge as they navigate injuries to key players.
“You have to win those games,” Stutzle confessed, reflecting the pressure felt throughout the locker room as they face mounting expectations amid their struggles. The team is eager to shift their energy as they prepare for their next encounters and aim for improvement.
Whether it’s fine-tuning their mechanics or ramping up their offensive efforts, the Senators need all hands on deck as they strive to secure the wild card berth and withstand the fierce competition within the division.
The thrilling matchup between these two rivals proved to be as exciting as expected, leaving fans eager for their next clash. The Montreal Canadiens will look to carry this momentum when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre, aiming to continue rising within the Eastern Conference playoff race.