Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators: A Disappointing Homecoming
The Montreal Canadiens returned to their home ice at the Bell Centre following a tough defeat in Denver, eager to take on their rivals, the Ottawa Senators. Both teams faced pressure after suffering heavy losses in their previous games, heightening the anticipation for this matchup. Fans braced for a fiery encounter, but it became evident from the start that the Senators were focused on playing solid hockey instead of engaging in rough tactics. Despite Montreal’s aggressiveness, as evidenced by a significant edge in hits, their efforts fell flat, leading to another disappointing result on home turf.
Goaltending Struggles
One of the central narratives of the night was the play—or lack thereof—of goaltender Samuel Montembeault. After showing signs of improvement against the Vegas Golden Knights, hopes were high for a breakout performance from the Becancour native. However, those expectations were dashed quickly as he allowed four goals on 21 shots, posting a troubling .810 save percentage before the end of the second period. Montembeault’s struggles were compounded by his inability to efficiently handle rebounds; he frequently dropped the puck after making saves, leading to further scoring opportunities for the Senators.
A concerning statistic only adds to the scrutiny of Montembeault’s performance as he now holds one of the lowest save percentages for a Canadiens goalie after their initial 14 games of a season. The team’s defensive troubles were palpable, with Ottawa easily penetrating the slot and taking shots from prime scoring areas, a point emphasized by head coach Martin St-Louis post-game:
“The other team defended way harder than we did; we lost a lot of battles, and defensively, we weren’t present.”
Though St-Louis mentioned that system plays a role, he insisted that the failures stemmed more from individual effort and hesitation, dismissing the idea that tactical adjustments alone could resolve the issues facing the team. Captain Nick Suzuki echoed this sentiment, pointing to a lack of focus leading to critical mental errors that ultimately cost his team.
Senators’ Dominance
In contrast, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was a thorn in the Canadiens’ side throughout the game. His knack for aggravating the opposition while also contributing offensively was on display as he assisted on an early goal and later scored himself, effectively deflating the home crowd and sealing Montreal’s fate with a fifth goal that pushed the score to 5-2. Even when he wasn’t directly involved in scoring, he employed crafty tactics that disrupted Montreal’s play and created opportunities for his teammates.
Looking Ahead
With this latest defeat, the Canadiens must now face the Winnipeg Jets, and questions loom about their mental resilience following a series of disheartening performances. Despite St-Louis’s optimism regarding the need for more shots on goal, the reality remains stark: a struggling goaltender and ineffective defense mean they will need to find their offensive rhythm if they hope to turn their fortunes around in the competitive NHL landscape.
