3 Takeaways From Senators’ 5-2 Win Over Canadiens

Speaking after the final buzzer sounded, Brassard praised his teammates for their ability to overcome adversity in an intense atmosphere at the Bell Centre.

“They scored two quick goals and we’re down by one, [but] I don’t think we panicked,” he told reporters in Montreal. “That’s a sign of maturity that we can play in those games. We came back in the third and won by three, that’s a huge win for us.”

Brassard makes a fine point, especially in the context of a spotty season for the Senators. There have been occasions in recent memory when they have faltered in the face of adversity but not against the Habs in a make-or-break portion of the season.

The Senators need more from everyone on their roster in the weeks ahead, the bottom-six included. If Brassard & Co. can recreate their form in the games to come, Ottawa will be in okay shape down the stretch.

Senators’ Top-Six Produced in Tense Encounter with Canadiens

The Senators’ win over the Canadiens wasn’t a work of art. They started on the front foot but were thrown off balance by their hosts in the second period. It could’ve turned out very differently if not for a fantastic response midway through the game.

“It was the halfway mark in the second period and we hadn’t taken care of the puck at all,” head coach D.J. Smith said of the performance. “We were rattled for a six-minute span where we were running around and turning pucks over… in the third period, we spoke about putting pucks behind them and checking. I think we did a really nice job.”

While the likes of Søgaard and Brassard have important roles to play, the Senators stand no chance of qualifying for the playoffs if their stars falter, which is why clutch production from Drake Batherson and Shane Pinto is so important.

Batherson chipped in with a rocket from the top of the right circle to put the game out of reach for the Canadiens. It was a laser that Montembeault couldn’t track, much less stop, and is a sign of his improved form in recent weeks.

Pinto’s second-period equaliser was equally important. He found himself in prime real estate after Alex DeBrincat mishandled the puck and beat Montembeault with a tidy finish from the border of the crease.

After a rocky start to period two, the Senators needed their top-six to raise its performance level in Montreal, which is exactly what they did. It bodes well for them with an important stretch on the horizon.

Looking Ahead for the Ottawa Senators

The Senators have a massive week ahead, with a home-and-home versus the Detroit Red Wings next on the agenda. If they take all four points from a direct rival, it will supercharge their playoff chase in the week of the trade deadline.

The Senators are still seventh in the Atlantic Division, but that could change in the days ahead. They have three games in hand over the Florida Panthers, who they trail by just four points. It promises to be a fascinating end to the month in Ottawa.