Both the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens are looking to break their three-game losing streaks as they return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break on Saturday night.
The Senators, currently holding the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, begin a three-game homestand against the Canadiens. Ottawa has been strong on home ice, boasting a record of 16-7-2 so far this season. One key player for the Senators is Tim Stutzle, who leads the team with 39 assists and 56 points in 56 games. The German forward enters Saturday’s game on a red-hot eight-game point streak, including two goals and nine assists. Over the break, Stutzle focused on refining areas of his game to help boost the team’s performance in the final stretch of the season.
“Keep working on those little details,” said Stutzle. “I think Coach Travis Green has done a great job in helping me improve every day. It’s been a pleasure working with the team, and I feel that by elevating my game, I can contribute to our success.”
In goal, Linus Ullmark, who made a lone appearance for Sweden during the 4 Nations Face-Off, is having a solid season with a 12-9-2 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.49 goals-against average over 25 games. Ullmark has faced Montreal six times in his career, posting a 3-2-0 record with an .890 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA. Saturday’s game marks the second of four matchups between the two teams this season, with Montreal taking the first one 4-1 on October 12.
On the other hand, the Canadiens, sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, have struggled recently, posting a 2-7-1 record in their last 10 games. Their road record stands at 12-14-1 this season. With the recent losing skid in mind, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis used the break to focus on improving the team’s defensive play.
“We’ve just got to be sharp,” said defenseman Arber Xhekaj. “Everyone has to be on their game because it’s a team effort. If one guy falls off, it messes up everything. We need to be mentally sharp and ready to go.”
Xhekaj acknowledged the team’s defensive struggles leading up to the break, especially after allowing 15 goals in their three most recent losses.
“We were a bit scrambled,” said Xhekaj. “But once we tighten things up, we’ll be fine.”
The Canadiens’ captain, Nick Suzuki, leads the team with 52 points in 56 games, while Cole Caufield is the team’s top goal scorer with 26 goals in 56 games. Goaltender Jakub Dobes struggled in the Canadiens’ last game before the break, allowing three goals on eight shots before being replaced by Sam Montembeault during their 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dobes has been solid this season, boasting a 5-2-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.71 goals-against average in nine starts. Montembeault, who had a busy season with a 18-21-3 record in 42 games, returns to the Canadiens after serving as Team Canada’s third-string goaltender in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
This game represents an opportunity for both teams to turn their fortunes around and gain momentum as the regular season heads into its final stretch. The Senators and Canadiens will meet again in Montreal on March 18 and wrap up the season series on April 11 in Ottawa.
