Senators Spoil Canadiens’ Playoff Hopes with Commanding Win
Alright, let’s talk about what went down Friday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. If you were expecting the Montreal Canadiens to cruise into the playoffs with ease, the Ottawa Senators had other plans—and they made that very clear, early and often. Shane Pinto came out firing, scoring twice and leading the charge as Ottawa delivered a solid 5-2 win, putting a serious dent in Montreal’s playoff plans.
Now, here’s the context. The Habs needed a regulation win to officially lock in their playoff spot, but instead, they ran straight into a fired-up Sens team that had already clinched a postseason berth earlier this week. And Ottawa? They weren't playing like a team with nothing to prove. Right from the get-go, they looked sharp, aggressive, and ready to spoil the Canadiens’ momentum—especially with Montreal riding a six-game win streak.
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Within the first five minutes, Ottawa was already up 2-0 thanks to goals from Pinto and Dylan Cozens. They set the tone fast , and Montreal just couldn’t keep pace. In the second period, Ridly Greig extended the lead to 3-0, tapping in a slick pass from Michael Amadio. Although Christian Dvorak responded quickly with a goal to get Montreal on the board, it wasn’t enough to swing the momentum.
Drake Batherson then made it 4-1, redirecting a Thomas Chabot shot—a play that not only padded Ottawa’s lead but also marked Chabot’s 300th career point. Pretty impressive milestone right there. Nick Suzuki answered with a goal for the Canadiens, but that was as close as they’d get. Linus Ullmark stood tall in net for Ottawa, turning aside 20 shots and holding down the fort in the third. Pinto closed it out with an empty-netter, sealing the 5-2 win.
A couple of big notes from the night: Jake Sanderson picked up his 100th career NHL assist, which came on Ottawa’s third goal. And maybe the most telling stat? Montreal was held to just four shots in the third period. That’s lockdown hockey from the Sens.
So where does that leave things? The Senators avoided being swept by Montreal this season and snapped their rivals’ winning streak in style. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are now feeling the pressure—they’ve got three games left, and nothing’s guaranteed. Next up, they face the Maple Leafs in Toronto, and that’s going to be a huge one. Ottawa, meanwhile, hosts the Flyers on Sunday with a bit more breathing room.
Bottom line: Ottawa didn’t just play spoiler—they reminded everyone why they’re heading to the playoffs with serious momentum.
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