While the Montreal Canadiens are off to a strong start, the rival Ottawa Senators might finally have found a rhythm without their captain in the lineup.
The Canadiens eye a third consecutive victory Saturday night against the visiting Senators, who closed October with some solid play.
Montreal has won eight of its first 11 and is 3-1-0 at home. Star forwards Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki have combined for 29 points for the Canadiens, who return home following a 3-1-0 road trip.
“I don’t think it’s something to go crazy about. We’re only 11 games in, there’s a long way to go,” said Caufield, whose second goal Tuesday came 44 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory at Seattle.
“It’s fun being in this room with these guys.”
While the Canadiens prevailed Tuesday to close out their successful trip, they blew a 3-0 lead in the third period in the process.
“We’re playing some good hockey, but I think there is room to clean some stuff up,” said Suzuki, who recorded three assists against the Kraken and has a 10-game point streak after being shut out in the season opener.
Suzuki notched two goals with three assists as Montreal went 3-1-0 against the Senators last season. Caufield, meanwhile, has 10 goals and two assists in 14 career games versus Ottawa.
The Senators have won four of five games following a 2-4-1 start to the season. They’ve done that without captain Brady Tkachuk, whose thumb injury dealt the club an early blow.
Ottawa never led in regulation Thursday at home versus Calgary. But Jake Sanderson tied the game with less than three minutes remaining in the third period, and the Senators won 4-3 in a shootout.
“I think it just shows the maturity and growth of our group,” Sanderson said.
“I think in the past we might have folded, got down on ourselves, but there’s been multiple times this year where we’ve stuck with it and been patient.”
Drake Batherson, who recorded an assist Thursday for the Senators, posted nine of his team-leading 13 points in the last four games. He’s notched 11 goals and 15 assists in 28 career matchups with Montreal.
Linemate Tim Stutzle has eight points in the last four contests.
Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark yielded nine goals in the last two games. He posted a 4.18 goals-against average while losing both of his starts at Montreal last season.
Backup Leevi Merilainen, who stopped 45 of 54 shots in his two starts in 2025-26, has not played against the Canadiens in 16 career games spanning three seasons.
Montreal’s Sam Montembeault allowed 14 goals while losing two of his last three starts, but the team confirmed he will face Ottawa. He is 3-4-0 with a 3.19 goals-against average in seven career matchups with the Senators.
Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has 10 points in 11 games this season. He recorded a goal with three assists in four clashes with Ottawa in 2024-25.
