The Ottawa Senators were embarrassed on home ice by the Montreal Canadiens in a 5-2 effort by the visitors. Ottawa is 0 for 2 against the Habs in the regular season series matchup, and they have two more rematches later in March and April.
All seven goals scored in the game occurred in the first two periods, so fans had an easy time heading home if they didn’t believe in the comeback last night.
Period I
The Canadiens got on the board early with two goals in two minutes of each other.
At 2:28 into the game, veteran Brendan Gallagher broke the ice unassisted for his 15th of the campaign.
Cole Caufield extended Montreal’s lead at 4:28 into the first with his 27th goal of the regular season. Arber Xheaj and David Savard had the assists.
Josh Anderson got the game’s first minor penalty with a hook on Matthew Highmore.
Ottawa went to work on the powerplay, and it paid off. The opening goal for the home team was scored by American defender Jake Sanderson for his sixth of the season; his fourth in previous 7 games with the Senators. Drake Batherson had the primary assist, his 30th of the season; Tim Stützle, my Senators’ player to watch, had the secondary for his 40th.
Stützle got the final home goal unassisted 2 minutes and 34 seconds after the Sanderson goal.
Cole Reinhardt gets called for a holding minor on Gallagher; Patrik Laine gets the eventual winner for the Canadiens on the powerplay. Laine’s 13th as a Hab, his 217th of his career, was assisted by rookie Lane Huston and captain Nick Suzuki.
Ottawa only held the tie with the Canadiens for 19 seconds.
Period II
Josh Anderson extended the road lead for his 9th of the season from Gallagher and Christian Dvorak.
First overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky closed the scoring of the evening with his ninth of the campaign from Suzuki and Jayden Struble.
Period III
Despite WiFi saying he was going to fight Tkachuk, Slafkovsky threw hands with Ridly Greig in the third.
All 17 shots were denied by the goalkeepers.
Goaltenders
Montreal — Samuel Montembault was rested during the Four Nations, and saved 25 of 27 shots for a 0.926 save percentage.
Ottawa — Linus Ullmark allowed 5 goals on 15 shots for a 0.667 save percentage; Anton Forsberg saved all 10 shots faced.
Players to Watch
Montreal — Alex Newhook was held off the sheet, but had a hit and two shots in 15 minutes.
Ottawa — Tim Stützle continues his point streak at 9 games with points 57 and 58 on the season. Stu had an unassisted goal and a secondary assist.
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