The Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens had themselves a feisty pre-season.
The golf equipment met twice, and each video games had their surly moments. There was Ridly Greig’s late hit on Kirby Dach, Arber Xhekaj’s excessive hit on Tim Stutzle, and a number of other fights and scrappy moments.
If that was their tone within the pre-season, what are we in for in a sport that issues?
The Senators are in Montreal to face the Canadiens on Saturday night time. Ottawa opened the season on Thursday with a powerful 3-1 victory over the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. Linus Ullmark made 30 saves, and Tim Stutzle scored twice.
The Canadiens began effectively, too, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 on Wednesday. Sam Montembault performed out of his thoughts in that sport, selecting up the shutout. However the Habs needed to go once more on Thursday and fell 6-4 to the Boston Bruins. Cayden Primeau did not fare fairly as effectively, giving up six objectives on 29 photographs. Two of the objectives got here from former Senator Mark Kastelic, acquired within the Ullmark deal.
Whereas the Battle of Ontario has a protracted historical past, the Ottawa-Montreal rivalry appears to have extra juice nowadays, notably with each golf equipment attempting to rise up off the mat within the Atlantic Division.
“I believe rivalries are nice for the sport,” head coach Travis Inexperienced advised the media on Friday. “It might make sense that there is one constructed between groups in shut proximity to one another. However rivalries are additionally constructed by means of intense competitors, intense instances like playoff hockey. I believe (the rivalries) would solely develop if all three groups had been within the playoffs.”
Whereas this rivalry has been heated, it has been one-sided on the scoreboard currently. The Senators have gained the final 9 matchups, a streak that dates again to March 19, 2022. As if the Canadiens aren’t haunted sufficient by their Brady Tkachuk draft remorse, he is been a thorn of their facet as effectively, posting 14 factors in his final ten video games in opposition to Montreal.
The Senators will attempt Noah Gregor within the prime six with Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. Ridly Greig will take Adam Gaudette’s spot at centre on the fourth line. Zack MacEwen will get the beginning, signalling that head coach Travis Inexperienced desires to be prepared for shenanigans.
Ottawa’s Possible Roster for Saturday night time:
Montreal’s Possible Roster for Saturday night time:
The Habs honour their previous in addition to anybody within the NHL so it is fairly possible they’re going to take a second within the constructing for Donnie Marshall, who handed away this week. He was the one participant remaining from the Canadiens roster who was a part of all 5 consecutive Cups of their Nineteen Fifties dynasty.
Talking of historical past, on the morning skate in the present day, Jacques Martin and Patrick Lalime had been noticed chatting within the stands. It is exhausting to imagine it has been 20 years since Recreation 7 within the remaining Battle of Ontario – the dreaded Joe Nieuwendyk sport. That playoff sport was the top of the road in Ottawa for each males. After the cancelled season, they had been changed by Bryan Murray and Dominik Hasek.
Ullmark, like Joonas Korpisalo earlier than him, tipped his cap to the previous Senator this season by having Marvin the Martian painted on his masks as Lalime did. They even posed for a photograph this morning.
Faceoff is 7 pm (CityTV, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet ONE, TVA Sports activities)
