Senators and Canadiens Set for a Charged Showdown in Montreal
So tonight’s matchup between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens is shaping up to be one of those games where you can just feel the energy building before puck drop. Both teams arrive with nearly identical records — the Senators sitting at 12-9-4 and the Canadiens at 13-8-3 — which already sets the stage for a pretty balanced and emotionally charged meeting at the Bell Centre.
For Ottawa, the projected lineup shows a group that’s been shuffled a bit but still carries plenty of firepower. Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Fabian Zetterlund are expected to lead the top line, and that trio has the potential to set the tone early. The depth behind them looks steady too, with veteran voices like David Perron and Claude Giroux anchoring the middle six. One interesting note is that Kurtis MacDermid, who has missed seven straight games, was off the ice early during the morning skate, which usually signals that he might return. Meanwhile, Nick Cousins stayed out for extra work, hinting that he could be the odd man out. Coach Travis Green has admitted he’ll need warmups to finalize decisions, so a couple of last-minute tweaks shouldn’t be surprising.
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On the Canadiens’ side, injuries have been a major storyline. Big names like Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Kaiden Guhle, and Patrik Laine are all out, which forces Montreal to lean heavily on players who’ve been thrust into bigger roles. The top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Zack Bolduc is expected to carry much of the offensive load again. Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen centering the second line adds a young but exciting element. Defensively, Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson should continue logging big minutes. Jayden Struble, who missed a recent practice because of an upper-body issue, took part in the optional skate this morning. That suggests he’s close, and Coach Martin St. Louis said everyone will take warmups, meaning his status is truly a game-time call.
Goaltending also adds its own intrigue tonight. Linus Ullmark is projected to start for Ottawa, bringing a steady presence to the crease. Montreal is expected to counter with Sam Montembeault, who’s been carrying a significant load with confidence.
And beyond the lineups, there’s this idea of an “emotional recharge,” as TSN’s Darren Dreger put it earlier today. Montreal’s coming off a tough 7–2 loss in Colorado, and Ottawa is trying to build momentum after some inconsistent stretches. When you combine all that with the always-intense atmosphere of a Canadiens–Senators matchup, it feels like a night where both teams show up with a little extra spark.
So as the puck gets ready to drop at 7 p.m. ET, the storylines are already in motion — lineup decisions, returning players, young talent stepping up, and two teams hungry for a statement win. It should be a fun one to watch.
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