The Ottawa Senators and visiting Montreal Canadiens both aim to snap three-game losing skids as they return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break on Saturday night.
The Senators, who hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, open a three-game homestand against the Canadiens. They are 16-7-2 on home ice.
Tim Stutzle, the Senators’ leader with 39 assists and 56 points in 56 games this season, enters Saturday’s action riding an eight-game point streak (two goals and nine assists).
The German forward spent the week of practice refining areas in his game in preparation for the stretch run.
“Keep working on those little details, and I think (coach Travis Green) has done a great job with trying to help me get better every day,” Stutzle said. “For me, it’s been a pleasure to work with these guys and trying to make me better. I think that’s the biggest key for me, and I think if I can elevate my game, that’s going to help us win more games.”
Goaltender Linus Ullmark, who made a single appearance for Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, is 12-9-2 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average in 25 games this season.
In six career appearances against the Canadiens, Ullmark is 3-2-0 with an .890 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA.
Saturday is the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Canadiens won the first contest 4-1 in Montreal on Oct. 12.
Montreal, 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, has just two wins over its last 10 games (2-7-1) and is 12-14-1 on the road this season.
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis has used the practice days this week to reinforce the team’s defensive game.
“We’ve just got to be sharp. Every guy has got to be on. It’s a five-man unit out there,” defenseman Arber Xhekaj said. “If one guy is losing their guy or off track, it screws up the whole thing. We’ve got to be mentally sharp and just ready.”
Xhekaj admitted the team’s defensive game had slipped before the break. Montreal allowed a combined 15 goals in its three losses.
“I think a little bit. I think we were kind of a little scrambly,” he said. “We’ve just got to tighten it up, and we’ll be alright.”
Captain Nick Suzuki has a team-leading 52 points in 56 games, while Cole Caufield paces the Canadiens with 26 goals in 56 games.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes allowed three goals on eight shots before being replaced by Sam Montembeault in the Canadiens’ 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Dobes is 5-2-1 with a .908 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA in nine starts this season.
Montembeault, 18-21-3 in 42 games this season, returns to the Canadiens after serving as the third-string goaltender for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The two teams reconvene in Montreal on March 18 before concluding the season series on April 11 in Ottawa.
–Field Level Media
