Since Thursday's 6-2 win over Montreal, the Senators have welcomed back centres Josh Norris and Shane Pinto.
The Matchup: Ottawa Senators (17-24-1, eighth in the Atlantic) at Montreal Canadiens (19-20-7, sixth in the Atlantic)
Faceoff: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024, 7 p.m. (TSN2, RDS, TSN5)
What's New? The two teams are probably in very different moods right now. Over their last three games, the Senators have not only returned to full strength, they've looked like a team that's begun to grasp the defensive detail and structure that new coach Jacques Martin has been preaching. They've looked as organized as they have all season, grabbing five of a possible six points.
The Habs will be surly and motivated after a 6-2 loss in Ottawa and then a 9-4 loss in Boston. They've recalled heavyweight Arber Xhekaj. In his first game back in the NHL, after 17 games in the minors, it's easy to picture Xhekaj being like an angry bull coming out of a rodeo chute – especially after the Habs just gave up 15 goals in two games.
The History: Including last week's 6-2 beatdown, the Senators have won seven straight games (7-0-0) against the Canadiens, a streak that started in April of 2022.
The Sens outshot Montreal 37-23 on Thursday, while Tim Stützle had a goal and two assists. Stutzle forever gets under the skin of Montreal's Brendan Gallagher. After the Sens' top centre had done all the scoreboard damage required, Gallagher challenged him to fight, but Stützle didn't bother with him.
Two years ago, Gallagher delivered a long post-game soliloquy about Stutzle's theatrics in trying to draw penalties. The comments might have carried more weight if YouTube weren't filled with videos of Gallagher employing the same tactic. Regardless, it adds to the bad blood.
Zack MacEwen may also be interested in another go with Michael Pezzetta, who got the better of him after he lost his footing in a fight on Thursday night. But with the Senators moms with them on this trip, perhaps it'll wait for another day.
The Lineups: Since Thursday's win over Montreal, the Senators have beefed up their talent level with the return of centres Josh Norris (upper-body injury) and Shane Pinto (suspension).
The Senators will start Joonas Korpisalo in goal. Travis Hamonic was hurt in the win over the Flyers on Sunday afternoon, so Erik Brannstrom comes back in. Those are the only roster changes from Sunday, but Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun are back as a pair, while Brannstrom skates with Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Dominik Kubalik is still bothered by a minor hip injury, although it's hard to picture him returning to the top nine right now, even if he were healthy. Mark Kastelic remains the odd man out among the club's four fourth-liners.
For Montreal, Arber Xhekaj and Tanner Pearson both draw into the lineup and it looks like Jake Allen will start in goal. Alex Newhook remains out with an ankle injury.
Projected lineup from nhl.com
Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Juraj Slafkovsky
Josh Anderson -- Jake Evans -- Brendan Gallagher
Joshua Roy -- Sean Monahan -- Joel Armia
Tanner Pearson -- Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Michael Pezzetta
Mike Matheson -- David Savard
Jayden Struble -- Kaiden Guhle
Arber Xhekaj -- Jonathan Kovacevic
Jake Allen
Cayden Primeau