Canadiens Power Play Sputters Against the Senators | RECAP: OTT @ MTL

Montreal's slow start and struggling power play allowed the Ottawa Senators to extend their winning streak against the Canadiens.

GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 1 vs Ottawa Senators 4 | FINAL

Forwards

22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
70 Tanner Pearson - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson
89 Joshua Roy - 91 Sean Monahan - 40 Joel Armia
55 Michael Pezzetta - 49 Rafael Harvey-Pinard - 11 Brendan Gallagher

Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 58 David Savard
47 Jayden Struble - 21 Kaiden Guhle
72 Arber Xhekaj - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic

Goaltenders

Starter: 34 Jake Allen
Alternate: 30 Cayden Primeau

Out of the lineup

Scratches: Jesse Ylonen, Sam Montembeault, Jordan Harris

Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Alex Newhook (lower body), Christian Dvorak (upper body)

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_iU69UZUik[/embed]

The Ottawa Senators scored twice in 41 seconds in the first period, including a shorthanded goal, to deflate the opposition and Bell Centre fans.

With very little pushback, the Canadiens went on to lose for the eighth consecutive time against the Senators.

Johnathan Kovacevic scored the lone goal for Montreal, in his return to the lineup replacing Jordan Harris.

Josh Anderson added physicality to the Canadiens top line in the third period but they could not finish.

Montreal failed to capitalize on five power play opportunities generating just three shots on goal.

It was a difficult game for two players who have spent time in Laval this season: Arber Xhekaj and Joshua Roy.

Michael Pezzetta had a total of four shifts for a total of 1:57.

In their last three games, including two matches against the Senators, the Canadiens have been outscored 19-7. Jake Allen allowed three goals, Cayden Primeau gave up six goals, and Sam Montembeault was beaten eight times.

With two teams that could be considered sellers facing each other, more than 25  scouts from NHL teams were at the Bell Centre.

Canadiens (19-21-7)
Shots: 25
Face-off %: 52.0
Power play: 0/5
Penalty minutes: 10
Hits: 29
Blocks:13

Senators (18-24-1)
Shots: 28
Face-off %: 48.0
Power play: 0/5
Penalty minutes: 10
Hits: 14
Blocks: 15

Canadiens Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: --
3rd period: Kovacevic (6)
OT: --
SO: --

Senators Scorers
1st period: Greig (7)-SHG, Sanderson (7)
2nd period: Pinto (6)
3rd period: Joseph (8)-ENG
OT: --
SO: --

Goaltenders
MTL: Allen (L) 5-9-2
OTT: Korpisalo (W) 10-15-1

Johnathan Kovacevic - Kovacevic his sixth goal of the season.

Cole Caufield - Caufield led the Canadiens with six shots on goal, recording one assist.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uAgkDQXArk[/embed]

Nick Suzuki

"We had a few good chances to score without being able to take advantage of them. When you become frustrated, your game bogs down, especially in my case."

Martin St. Louis

"In the NHL, when you give gifts, it’s hard to win. Sometimes, in a season, you lose yourself a little, we have to work to find momentum again."

The Canadiens host Patrick Roy and the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre on Thursday.

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