Senators score four power play goals to beat Canadiens 4-3

MONTREAL — The Ottawa Senators’ special teams had an outstanding performance in helping the visitors defeat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Tuesday night in pre-season action.

Michael Amadio, Adam Gaudette, Ridly Greig and Carter Yakemchuk all scored power-play goals for the Senators (3-1-1 in the preseason), while Jake Evans, Kirby Dach and Oliver Kapanen scored for the Canadiens (2-3). , who lost three in a row.

Montreal enjoyed most of the scoring opportunities in the first period, but neither team scored in the first seven minutes.

Evans made the most of his opportunity to open the scoring with seven minutes remaining. After picking up a loose puck at the top of the faceoff circle on the right side, he unleashed a powerful snap into the top corner, leaving a shielded Linus Ullmark with no chance to stop it.

The Canadiens were in prime position to double their lead just minutes later with a nearly full five-on-three power play, but only managed two shots.

The same defensive pace continued into the second period, but the Canadiens were able to score a second goal just four minutes in on a few opportunistic bounces of the puck. While trying to center a pass, Dach – who had left the game after taking a hit to the head in the first period – doubled the Canadiens’ lead after the puck hit two Senators defensemen before sliding between Ullmark’s legs.

Midway through the game, Ottawa had a great opportunity to get back into the game after Arber Xhekaj was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct – his second in as many games – after elbowing Tim Stüzle in the head.

The Senators wasted no time getting their first when Amadio netted a rebound from point-blank range. They would then turn a one-goal deficit into a 3-2 lead by scoring two more on the man advantage through Gaudette and Greig.

After a deflected shot appeared to go in as the clock read zero, the Canadiens felt like they had an even goal at the buzzer. However, video review confirmed that the puck was only a fraction of a second too late to end up in the net.

Ottawa’s power play continued its hot streak, adding another two minutes in the third period. Yakemchuk’s well-placed one-timer beat Cayden Primeau to make it four unanswered Senators goals.

At the end of Montreal, the power play remained problematic. In the five pre-season games, the Canadiens have failed to score on any of their 25 attempts, including five on Tuesday.

In the second half of the period, Montreal started to turn up the pressure with their forcheck, which caused turnovers in the offensive zone as they were finally able to get one back. After Joshua Roy’s shot left a big rebound right in front of the goal, Kapanen pounced on the puck and brought the Canadiens within one.

The equalizer came on the edge of Evans’ stick from inside the crease, but it was denied by a phenomenal glove save from Ullmark.

NEXT

Senators: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

Canadiens: Visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.

Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press