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
Ottawa Senators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1.Canadiens Lineup
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)
Game Report
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.
Game Statistics
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
Scoring Summary
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
Canadiens Player of the Game
Johnathan Kovacevic - Kovacevic his sixth goal of the season.
Cole Caufield - Caufield led the Canadiens with six shots on goal, recording one assist.
Video Highlights
Post-game Quotes
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."
Up Next
The Canadiens host Patrick Roy and the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre on Thursday.
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