Professors' Press Box Morning Review – Nov. 7: Canadiens & Senators

Two Canadian clubs went the distance Thursday night — both taking their games to overtime, both coming home with only one point to show for it. Still, there was plenty to admire. The Canadiens learned a hard lesson about closing out leads against a high-flying Devils team, while the Senators scratched and clawed their way to a respectable result in Boston. Neither performance was perfect, but both showed signs of growth — the kind of small steps that start to matter as the season deepens. The pragmatic view is that one point is better than no points.

Game One: Canadiens Let One Slip in Newark (Devils 4, Canadiens 3 – OT)

Now and then, you get a game that tells you more in the loss than the win ever could. Montreal’s 4–3 overtime stumble to the Devils felt like one of those nights — a young team finding out what it takes to hold onto a lead against a club that’s been there before.

For most of the night, the Canadiens looked the part. Jake Evans scored a smart, greasy goal early in the third, and Oliver Kapanen followed it up with a nice backhand rebound to give Montreal the edge. You could feel the confidence growing — they were playing loose, skating well, and even controlling stretches of the third period. But against a skilled, home-perfect New Jersey team, a single mistake turns into a highlight the other way. Jesper Bratt’s breakaway in overtime was one of those reminders that the NHL punishes even half-steps.

You had to feel for young goalie Jakub Dobes afterward. Six straight wins to start the year, then one overtime goal, and he’s wearing the loss like it’s his fault. That’s what you want in a goaltender — someone who cares too much — but he doesn’t need to shoulder this one alone.

Montreal played a solid road game; they couldn’t finish the job. The lesson here? The Canadiens aren’t far off. Nights like this are the tuition you pay on the way to becoming a contender.

Game Two: Senators Steal a Point but Fall Late in Boston (Bruins 3, Senators 2 – OT)

If you’re an Ottawa fan, this one felt like sneaking out of the exam with a passing grade after forgetting to study. The Senators didn’t have their best stuff, but they still managed to claw a point out of the Bruins — no small feat in that rink. It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes that’s all you can ask for when the other team’s rolling.

Ottawa started well enough. Michael Amadio finished a slick 2-on-1 from Shane Pinto, and for a few minutes, it looked like they might set the tone. Then the wheels wobbled. Boston took over the middle frame, and the Senators were stuck chasing pucks and weathering shifts. Claude Giroux’s late goal in the third, though, was vintage leadership — just when it looked like the night might slip away entirely, he found a way to drag his team back into it. That’s what he does: keeps the fight alive.

Still, Pavel Zacha’s overtime winner with five seconds left stung. It was one of those moments that separates the polished from the promising. Coach Travis Green was blunt afterward — they didn’t have many good players tonight — but even he had to admit it was a good point to earn on the road. The Senators are learning how to hang in when their game’s off, and that might serve them better down the road than an easy win ever could.