Sens' Losing Streak Hits 4 Games With 5-2 Loss to Montreal
Bad, bad game!
The Four Nations break came at just the right time for this team. A long list of injuries and a three game losing streak in Florida had them just barely hanging on to a playoff spot, and desperately in need of a reset. The break should have given them time to rest up and get back in the "win" column against an opponent they can usually beat. Instead, they looked like they could have used several more practices.
"We're just not sharp enough," was Tim Stützle's take on tonight's game. Neither he, Sanderson or coach Travis Green had much to say at all beyond the obvious: the team played terribly, and they can't use injuries as an excuse.
Most Sens fans dread these home games against Toronto and Montreal, just because of how annoying it is to deal with visiting fans in your own arena. As always, the Habs crowd made their presence known right away, booing Tim Stützle, singing that stupid olé song, and so on. I'm assuming the cybertruck I spotted in the parking lot belonged to a Habs fan, by the way.
The upside to these types of games is that it feels great when the Sens play really well and take the (visiting) crowd out of it early. They did not do that tonight. Instead, they decided to leave Brendan Gallagher wide open in the slot only a few minutes into the game. To be fair to them, that's not usually a particularly dangerous move. The old man pulled off the shot, though. 1-0 Montreal.
A few minutes later, they made pretty much the same mistake with Caufield. 2-0 Montreal.
The good news about going down early to Montreal? A comeback is always feasible.
Ottawa's luck turned around later in the period, when the Habs got a powerplay, and Jake Sanderson scored immediately! I love it when he plays on my team. 2-1 Montreal.
Sandy snipe 🎯#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/yphoEVIiSj
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 23, 2025
Then, Tim Stützle stole the puck, skated it pretty much end-to-end, got himself a breakaway just by outworking the Montreal defense, and... my god, you just have to see it for yourself. Tim Stützle, the player that you are. 2-2.
Pure filth from our German fella 🤯#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/9CglodBhIS
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 23, 2025
Unfortunately, Ottawa took a penalty right after the goal, and Montreal scored right off the faceoff. Laine. What can you do? 3-2 Montreal.
The second period had a good pace to it from the start, but unfortunately the Habs drew first blood, restoring their two goal lead. Caufield was officially on hat trick watch. 4-2 Montreal.
It was a wild game. Tim Stützle was basically showing off in the offensive zone every time he had the puck. Unfortunately, the next goal also went to Montreal. Batherson lost the puck right in front of his own net, and Slafkovsky took advantage. 5-2 Montreal.
That was the end of Ullmark's night, as he was pulled in favour of Anton Forsberg.
Laine hauled down Jensen right at the end of the second period, and the powerplay carried over into the third. Tim Stützle made a cool move at the start of the third period, but it didn't go in, and right after the penalty expired, the Sens were assessed a bench minor for too many men on the ice.
Predictably, things got chippy once we returned to 5 on 5. Xekaj tried to fight Tim Stützle, and Timmy almost took the challenge, which would have ended very badly for him. Seemingly as a response to that nonsense, Greig stepped up and fought Slafkovsky. It was a highly entertaining fight, but Greig unfortunately lost.
That would stand as the last interesting thing to happen in the game. At least they didn't let Caufield get his hat trick.
Game Notes
- I was in town for this game, and the Sens organization was kind enough to set me up with media access, so I got some postgame quotes from the players.
- The whole team looked extremely disorganized all night, especially in their own zone. It looked like the worst days of the rebuild out there. I suspect it was part rust and part missing all those injured players - it can't be easy to rearrange all their set plays and mix up all the lines - but it's not an excuse.
- Interestingly, Travis Green said that yesterday's practice was "one of the best practices of the year" when asked if rust or lack of practice contributed to the team's poor performance. Maybe it's like that superstition in theatre where the worse the dress rehearsal is, the better the show will be, and vice versa?
- Not Ullmark's best game. This is the second time he's been really rusty while coming off an injury, so I hope he figures this out soon.
- A real bad game for Drake Batherson, who committed some very bad turnovers.
- Tim Stützle loves to play the Habs. There was a point where I genuinely thought he was going to get a hat trick to tie it.
- Jake Sanderson was also fantastic. I'm so glad he's back on our team.
- After the game, Sanderson acknowledged that the team misses Norris and Pinto a lot, especially on the penalty kill, and obviously their "heart and soul" Brady Tkachuk. But Tim Stützle refused to blame injuries for the team's poor play: "doesn't matter. You have to win those games" was his take, after telling us that he should have done more himself.
- As for how the team needs to respond, Timmy said the team can't get too frustrating. "We just have to keep playing and be better."
