The Montreal Canadiens secured a convincing 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on February 22, 2025, at the Canadian Tire Centre, marking a much-needed win after struggling through recent games. The win allowed the Canadiens to break out of their slump, improving their overall record to 26-26-5. Key contributions came from several players, including Brendan Gallagher, who scored one goal and assisted on another during the match.
Gallagher opened the scoring just 2:28 minutes due to miscommunication from the Senators. He capitalized on a poor pass from Drake Batherson, collecting the puck and firing it past Senators' goalie Linus Ullmark, making it 1-0 for Montreal. This was Gallagher's 15th goal this season, showcasing his relentless pursuit of the puck and ability to find the net.
Cole Caufield followed soon after, doubling Montreal's lead just over two minutes later by tapping in the rebound of Arber Xhekaj's shot. Caufield’s goal marked his 27th tally of the season, reinforcing his status as the team's leading scorer. The Canadiens’ aggressive start left the Senators struggling to regain their footing, and it prompted loud cheers from the visiting fans.
The Senators weren't about to go down without a fight. They managed to reduce the deficit with Jake Sanderson scoring on the power play at the 13:20 mark of the first period, making it 2-1. Sanderson executed a well-placed wrist shot through traffic, showcasing Ottawa's resilience.
Just after the Senators pulled within one, they tied the game 2-2, with Tim Stutzle scoring on a partial breakaway at 15:54, marking his 18th goal of the season. Stutzle's slick maneuver and speed caught the Canadiens' defense off-guard, creating hope for the home crowd.
But the Canadiens responded immediately. Just 19 seconds later, they regained the lead 3-2 with Ukrainian star Patrik Laine scoring on the power play, taking advantage of Lane Hutson's setup. Laine, who had been struggling with consistency, celebrated his first goal after 11 games without one.
A few minutes later, during the second period, Josh Anderson scored again for Montreal, slotting the rebound from Gallagher's shot after Ullmark let out a big rebound, making it 4-2. Anderson’s instincts and positioning were key to sealing this goal and providing more breathing room for the Canadiens.
Juraj Slafkovsky sealed the game for the Canadiens, scoring the final goal at 11:32 of the second period. Slafkovsky’s one-timer off Nick Suzuki's cheeky assist put the Montreal team up 5-2, forcing Ottawa to pull Ullmark from the net. Anton Forsberg came on as backup but was unable to change the game’s outcome.
The Senators struggled to handle the Canadiens' aggressive forecheck, resorting to penalties, which highlighted their desperation. Several missed calls led to frustration among Ottawa's players and coaches, with the Senators’ head coach, Travis Green, voicing his displeasure about the officiated outcomes during the game.
Throughout the match, Canadiens' goalie Sam Montembeault made 25 saves, adding confidence to his performance after representing Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off recently. He played under pressure, especially as the Senators injected life back after each Montreal goal.
Montreal not only found their scoring rhythm but also engineered solid team play, tallying eight assists overall, with captain Nick Suzuki contributing two assists to the cause. This win marked their first victory after three straight losses and was viewed as pivotal to shifting the team's mentality moving forward.
With both teams hoping to make strides as the season progresses, the stakes are high. The Senators, who have now lost four straight games, will need to regroup quickly. They were also without their captain Brady Tkachuk due to injury, which could be affecting their recent struggles.
Looking forward, the next matchup between these two rivals will take place on March 18, 2025, when the Senators will visit Montreal again. Each team will be aiming to leverage recent lessons learned and strategies to come out on top.
This game not only highlights the fierce competitiveness of the NHL but also showcases the talent and potential of young stars like Gallagher, Caufield, and Slafkovsky. With the Canadiens’ strong offensive play displayed, fans are optimistic about what lies ahead for this storied franchise.