Senators 5, Canadiens 2: Ottawa Simply Won More Battles
The Montreal Canadiens opened the night the way they wished they had started in Denver—quick feet, crisp touches, and an early power-play goal from Juraj Slafkovsky. For a moment, the Bell Centre had the feel of a team ready to reset after taking one on the chin. But the momentum evaporated almost immediately. The Ottawa Senators’ Fabian Zetterlund answered just 24 seconds later, and from that point on, it was Ottawa dictating shifts while Montreal scrambled to keep up.
Montreal kept falling into the same traps: losing inside positioning, late sticks in lanes, and hesitation in the corners. Ottawa, meanwhile, looked like a team that was finishing a long road trip with purpose. They leaned on structure and timely scoring. By the time Brady Tkachuk wired home the fifth goal, the difference in urgency between the two clubs was impossible to ignore.
Key Point One: Montreal’s D-Zone Struggles vs. Ottawa’s Pushback
Montreal couldn’t win enough one-on-one defensive battles, and Ottawa took full advantage. Cole Caufield was blunt postgame. His team gave up too many blown assignments, too many moments where the Senators were allowed to walk into dangerous spots. Ottawa didn’t just exploit the space—they created it by winning the physical confrontations Montreal kept losing.
Key Point Two: Suzuki Line Shows Up, Ottawa’s Depth Answers
Nick Suzuki and Caufield again carried most of Montreal’s offense, combining for three points and trying to drag the team back into the fight. But Ottawa countered with balance. Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, Zetterlund, and Drake Batherson all contributed, giving the Senators the kind of four-line rhythm that Montreal couldn’t match once their top line came off the ice.
Key Point Three: Two Different Responses to Momentum Swings
Slafkovsky’s goal should have been Montreal’s launch point—but Zetterlund quieted the building within seconds. Ottawa handled swings with calm and purpose, while Montreal seemed rattled each time the tide turned. That contrast told the story: the Senators leaned in when the moment asked; the Canadiens backed off just enough for the game to slip away.
Final Thoughts from Montreal’s Perspective
This loss wasn’t a systems failure—it was about habits, details, and urgency. When a team plays man-on-man, even a second of drifting leads to goals against, and Montreal drifted too often. Suzuki’s point streak and Caufield’s continued production remain encouraging, but the Canadiens need a stronger backbone from the middle of the lineup down.
The Habs are not far off. But the gap between “in every game” and “competing to win” is widening on nights like this.
Final Thoughts from Ottawa’s Perspective
For Ottawa, this win capped a road trip that could have gone either way. Instead, they finished above .500 and re-established the identity they want: hard on pucks, balanced scoring, and leadership that shows up at the right times. Tkachuk’s return brought emotional lift, and Zetterlund’s performance—especially given the week he’s had—was one of his best in months.
If the Senators can replicate this mix of structure and resilience, they may finally be settling into the version of themselves they’ve been chasing all season.