Canadiens Triumph Over Senators in 4-1 Victory

Saturday night bore witness to an enthralling NHL game, where Emil Heineman and Cole Caufield led the Montreal Canadiens to a decisive 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The duo scored crucial first-period goals, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

Caufield and Newhook Expand Canadiens’ Lead

The Canadiens’ lead was further solidified early in the third period when Alex Newhook found the back of the net. Tim Stutzle broke Sam Montembeault’s hopes of recording a second back-to-back shutout, scoring for the Senators. Having saved 48 shots in the season opener against Toronto, Montembeault displayed impeccable form once again, blocking 24 shots from the Senators.

In the third period, Caufield rounded off the scoring for the Canadiens, marking his second goal of the game and the fourth of the season.

Penalty Shot Drama

In a dramatic turn of events, Mike Matheson of the Canadiens was awarded a penalty shot when he was tripped by Jake Sanderson during a third-period power play. Linus Ullmark, who concluded the game with 22 saves, managed to deflect Matheson’s shot which hit the post and veered wide.

Special Teams Battle: Canadiens Emerge Victorious

The Canadiens outperformed the Senators in the special teams battle. Heineman delivered a power-play goal with just one second left on the clock, contributing to Montreal’s 1 for 4 record with the extra man. In contrast, Ottawa struggled to convert their power plays, failing to score on four attempts and limited to just three shots on goal.

Montembeault Under Pressure

A key moment emerged in the second period when Montembeault faced a barrage of shots from the Senators, who outshot the Canadiens 12-3. Despite the pressure, the Canadiens’ goaltender held his nerve, showcasing his prowess between the posts.

Power Play Improvement

The Canadiens, known for their struggling power play performance over the past three seasons, showed signs of improvement. Despite a disappointing preseason record of 0 for 30, Heineman scored his first-ever NHL goal on a power play in the first period. This marked Montreal’s third consecutive regular-season game with a power-play goal.

Looking Ahead

The Senators will face the Los Angeles Kings on home ice next Monday, while the Canadiens will host the Pittsburgh Penguins the same night.