JUST IN: Canadiens @ Senators: Game preview, start time, Tale of the Tape, and how to watch

Canadiens Statistics Senators 30-37-12 Record 35-40-4 44.8% (29th) Scoring-chances-for % 48.7% (23rd) 2.78 (27th) Goals per game 3.08 (17th) 3.39 (26th) Goals against per game 3.44 (27th) 17.5% (26th) Power Play Percentage 17.6% (25th) 77.0% (22nd) Penalty Kill Percentage 75.1% (29th) 0-2-0 Head-to-Head Record 2-0-0

The Canadiens are keeping their secret weapon, Lane Hutson, on standby as he takes a few days off following his Frozen Four participation before joining the team. With Kaiden Guhle not participating in practice yesterday, it’s unlikely he will be in the lineup as well. This means the defensive lineup for the Habs might not be ideal but will feature players looking to prove themselves for a spot in the more competitive lineup in October.

In recent weeks, defenseman have been actively contributing to the Canadiens’ offense. Mike Matheson leads the team with nine points in April, followed by Jordan Harris with four and Johnny Kovacevic with three, despite only playing four games. The defensemen played a significant role in driving the offense toward the end of last season and are continuing to contribute to the team’s offensive success as this season wraps up.

On the other hand, the Senators have seen strong offensive performances from defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson, each reaching double-digit goal totals and achieving or approaching career-high points. Apart from these two defensemen and forwards Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson, the Senators have faced challenges in generating offense recently.

It’s a common narrative for the team that creates numerous opportunities but lacks the finishing touch to convert them into goals. Shane Pinto’s form has cooled down since his strong start in the middle of the season following his suspension related to gambling, while Claude Giroux’s performance has dipped notably since Vladimir Tarasenko was traded away at the trade deadline. There is a convincing argument that they may have a greater need for a goal-scoring prospect in this draft than Montreal does. However, suggesting this might not sit well with the players known for their unwavering work ethic that Ottawa has been focusing on in recent years.

Despite the Senators’ struggles in scoring overall, they have had no trouble finding the back of the net against Montreal this season, outscoring them 10-3 with contributions from nine different players in two successive games back in January. The Canadiens have not managed to defeat Ottawa or even earn a single point since March 19, 2022, experiencing a string of eight straight losses in regulation. Will the Canadiens break that losing streak tonight, or will Ottawa extend their lead over their national rival by securing another victory.