As the Ottawa Senators gear up for their next NHL game, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting match against the Montreal Canadiens at the iconic Bell Centre. The Senators have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent outings, and this upcoming game is a chance for them to tip the scales back into a positive trend.

Dec 23, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg (31) celebrates with left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) their win in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at their past performances, the Senators have had fluctuating success. In their last three games, they've experienced both highs and lows. They secured a narrow victory with 5 points against Pittsburgh Penguins but suffered losses against Colorado Avalanche (4 points) and Arizona Coyotes (3 points). Despite these setbacks, there are positive takeaways from these games that could influence their play at Bell Centre.

One notable aspect of the Senators' recent play has been their ability to start strong; they scored early with 3 goals in the first period against Coyotes and 2 goals each in the first periods versus Penguins and Avalanche. However, maintaining that momentum throughout all periods will be crucial if they want to secure a win on foreign ice.

The team's powerplay performance has been less than stellar lately, which might be an area of focus during practice sessions leading up to this game. Improving on converting powerplay opportunities could give them an edge over Montreal.

Defensively speaking, goaltending has been solid with save percentages hovering around 88 percent across recent matches. This reliability between the pipes will need to continue as they face off against a Canadiens team eager to please its home crowd.

In conclusion, while past games have shown some weaknesses – particularly in sustaining offensive pressure and capitalizing on man advantages – there's potential for improvement that could make all the difference when facing Montreal Canadiens.

Fans can catch all of this action live on ESPN+ or head down to Bell Centre on January 24th for what is sure to be an engaging contest full of strategy adjustments and high-intensity hockey.

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