Canadian Teams Morning Review – Jan. 25: Sens, Jets, Habs & Oilers
Saturday night offered a familiar snapshot of where Canada’s NHL teams sit right now. There were flashes of elite talent, stretches of honest pushback, and a few reminders that intent alone doesn’t close gaps in this league. Power plays loomed large, depth showed its value, and structure—or the lack of it—decided more than one outcome.
From Montreal’s narrow loss in Boston to Winnipeg’s continuing offensive drought, the through-line was consistency. Some teams are learning how to stay in games. Others are learning how fragile their margin really is. And a couple are still leaning heavily on stars to paper over cracks that haven’t gone away.
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Ottawa Senators 1
For Ottawa, this was less about the score and more about the reminder. Carolina is what a finished product looks like. The Senators are still assembling parts.
The Hurricanes decided the game early, scoring three times in the first period and removing any sense of uncertainty. William Carrier opened the scoring, but the real damage came from how easily Carolina moved the puck through neutral ice and into soft areas. Seth Jarvis beating James Reimer clean from the circle felt symbolic—space given is space punished.
The key moment arrived within the game’s first six minutes. Down 2–0, Ottawa never settled enough to push back meaningfully. The Hurricanes’ structure smothered the middle of the ice, forcing the Senators to the perimeter and turning possessions into one-and-done shifts.
Tim Stützle provided the lone goal, and his effort stood out more for isolation than impact. Ottawa’s offence rarely arrived in layers, and against a team as disciplined as Carolina, individual pushes don’t move the needle.
The night was made more poignant by the pregame honouring of Jacques Martin. It served as a quiet contrast—structure, patience, and clarity of purpose—qualities Ottawa still seeks but hasn’t yet mastered.
Detroit Red Wings 5, Winnipeg Jets 1
Winnipeg’s problems are no longer subtle. They are measurable, repeatable, and increasingly difficult to explain away.
The Jets did score first—Cole Koepke snapping a long five-on-five drought—but the relief was brief. Detroit answered before the period ended, and from there the game tilted hard. The Red Wings scored four times in the third, turning a competitive contest into a warning sign.
The defining figure here was Connor Hellebuyck, not because he played poorly, but because he’s being asked to hold together a team that isn’t generating enough at even strength. Four straight losses now sit beside long offensive stretches with scarce chances and thinner-than-expected support.
The key moment came late in the second when J.T. Compher tied the game. From there, Detroit’s depth took over. Winnipeg had no counterpunch.
For a Jets team built around structure and goaltending, the lack of five-on-five scoring is no longer a slump—it’s an identity issue that needs to be addressed.
Boston Bruins 4, Montreal Canadiens 3
Montreal left Boston with a loss, but also with evidence that its core is pushing forward—even when the results lag.
Cole Caufield was the story. His hat trick wasn’t accidental or opportunistic; it was a repeatable offence. Two power-play one-timers from nearly identical spots spoke to confidence, timing, and trust in his release. At 29 goals, he’s no longer projecting—he’s producing.
The defining moment came after Montreal tied the game late. Twelve seconds later, Morgan Geekie scored on the power play, and the window slammed shut. That’s the difference between teams learning how to win and teams that already know.
Boston’s power play efficiency proved decisive, going 3-for-4. Montreal’s response was respectable, but its margin remains thin. Defensive lapses, especially immediately after momentum swings, still cost them.
This was not a moral victory, but it was a developmental one. The Canadiens can skate with good teams. Learning to close games remains the lesson.
Edmonton Oilers 6, Washington Capitals 5 (OT)
Edmonton won, but not without reopening familiar questions. The Oilers leaned heavily on star power, and Evan Bouchard delivered a historic six-point night in his 400th game. The offence was brilliant. The structure behind it was less convincing. Goals came in bunches—and were given back just as quickly.
The key moment wasn’t Connor McDavid’s overtime winner. It was the repeated inability to hold momentum in regulation. Washington scored within seconds of Edmonton's goals more than once, turning dominance into chaos.
Goaltending adjustments midgame steadied things, but the pattern remains. Edmonton can overwhelm teams. It can also invite them back in.
Against Washington, talent won. Against tighter opponents, execution will have to.
Closing Thought About Canada’s Teams After Last Night
Saturday’s games reinforced a simple truth: talent keeps you competitive, but habits decide outcomes. Montreal is learning. Ottawa is searching. Winnipeg is stalling. Edmonton is surviving. The standings will judge them eventually—but the process is already telling the story.