Opinion
3 min read

Clash at Bell Centre: Ottawa Senators Take on Montreal Canadiens

As the Ottawa Senators gear up to face the Montreal Canadiens at the iconic Bell Centre, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an electrifying matchup. The Senators, coming off a recent victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 25th with a score of 4-3 in overtime, are looking to carry that momentum into their next game.


Dec 23, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) skates to the bench following his goal scored  against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The Senators showed resilience and offensive prowess in their last outing, netting three goals in the first period alone and securing the win with an overtime goal. Their shooting percentage was commendable at 10 percent, and they managed to block an impressive 20 shots. However, it's worth noting that faceoff wins were a weak spot for Ottawa as they only won around 28 percent of them.


Defensively, Ottawa's goaltender played a crucial role with a save percentage of about 92 percent against Toronto. This kind of performance between the pipes will be critical when facing Montreal's attack.


On special teams, Ottawa capitalized on one out of four powerplay opportunities but will need to improve their penalty kill after allowing two goals while shorthanded. Discipline may play a key factor in this upcoming game; minimizing penalties could tilt the ice in their favor.


Looking at previous performances can give us insights into how future games might unfold. In another past game on September 24th against Toronto Maple Leafs again but this time playing as hosts, Ottawa managed to secure a win with three goals scored while conceding two. Their goaltending was solid once more with a save percentage nearing 95 percent which contributed significantly to their victory despite being outshot by six attempts.


However, one area where improvement is needed is penalties – accumulating six during that match which could have easily swayed the result had it not been for stellar goaltending and effective powerplay execution scoring twice from four chances.


The Canadiens will pose different challenges; therefore adapting strategies accordingly is paramount for success. It’s essential for OTT not only maintain strong defensive structures but also exploit any weaknesses MTL may have shown recently – whether it be through special teams or exploiting certain matchups during even-strength play.


Fans should mark their calendars for September 27th when these two teams clash at Bell Centre starting at 7:00 PM local time (Montreal). The game won't be broadcasted on traditional networks but die-hard supporters can catch all action live from venue itself or through various streaming platforms available online ensuring they don’t miss any moment from this highly anticipated encounter within Canadian hockey circles.

Rate the article

Related stories

Senators and Sharks to Tangle in a Strategic Showdown at SAP Center
Opinion

Senators and Sharks to Tangle in a Strategic Showdown at SAP Center

4 min read
Ottawa Senators Ice the Competition, Set to Host Calgary Flames in Frigid Showdown
Opinion

Ottawa Senators Ice the Competition, Set to Host Calgary Flames in Frigid Showdown

4 min read
Ottawa Senators Clash with Vancouver Canucks in a Battle of Wills at Canadian Tire Centre
Opinion

Ottawa Senators Clash with Vancouver Canucks in a Battle of Wills at Canadian Tire Centre

3 min read